The 10 most important musical deaths of the decade [Archive] - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ABlairican Pie

12-21-2009, 10:42 AM

Chuck Schuldiner, guitarist of the extreme metal band Death (December 13, 2001)
A very talented player with intelligent social commentary about medical ethics and the like in his lyrics on albums such as "Spiritual Healing" and "Individual Thought Patterns", his untimely passing due to cancer fit with his song topics. The music and metal community gave benefits to raise money for his mounting medical bills.

Dave Williams, vocalist of metal band Drowning Pool (August 14, 2002)
Texas singer whose band made its initial mark with the popular track "Bodies", an anthem singing the praises of moshpit mayhem ("Let the bodies hit the floor"), he was found dead during the band's stint with Ozzfest due to heart disease. The band has continued on with new vocalists.

Denis "Piggy" D'Amour, guitarist of the progressivethrash metal band Voivod (August 26, 2005)
Quebecois guitarist of the French Canadian band who, like Death, sang about topics of scientific ethics and rather sci-fi themes on albums such as "Dimension Hatröss", "Nothingface", and "The Outer Limits", died of colon cancer at the age of 45. The band, whose lineup included in recent years former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, decided to breakup following the final
album "Infini", which includes posthumously recorded tracks by Piggy.

ABlairican Pie

12-22-2009, 09:50 AM

Benjamin Orr, bassist for new wave band The Cars, (October 3, 2000)
The bassist for the hit-making new wave band of the late 70's and throughout the 80's also sang on a number of the group's top songs including "Just What I Needed", "Let's Go", and "Drive". He died from pancreatic cancer, though continued to perform in spite of his illness.

Kirsty MacColl, British singer-songwriter (December 18, 2000)
The aspiring vocalist sang folk-oriented pop and rock tunes including "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis", "They Don't Know", and others during the 80's. Married to famed producer Steve Lillywhite, she was tragically killed when a speedboat struck her in Mexico.
Outrage ensued when the millionaire owner of the speedboat received what amounted to merely a legal slap on the wrist for his reckless driving which took the life of the singer.

"Lonesome" Dave Peverett, vocalist for 70's arena band Foghat (February 7, 2000)
The vocalist-rhythm guitarist for the blues-based British rock band played such hits as a cover of Willie Dixon's "I Just Wanna Make Love To You", "Fool For the City", and the rocker anthem, "Slow Ride". While being a wild man onstage, he never succumbed to the typical rock and roll vices during the band's stay at the top. The band played clubs and re-ignited interest among younger fans in the 90's. He died of cancer in early 2000.

ABlairican Pie

12-23-2009, 10:49 AM

Aaliyah, r & b singer, (August 25, 2001)
The beautiful young singer of songs such as "Try Again", "If Your Girl Only Knew", and albums including 'Age Ain't Nothing But a Number' died at the young age of 22 in an air crash on an overloaded plane flight. The vocalist also was an aspiring actress who appeared in a few films including 'Romeo Must Die' and 'Queen of the Damned'.

Stuart Adamson, lead singer of 80's band Big Country (December 16, 2001)
The vocalist for the popular Scottish new wave band in the early 80's committed suicide in Hawaii after a bout with heavy drinking. The band was known for its radical sound with guitars resembling bagpipes on such rousing hits as "In a Big Country" and "Fields of Fire".

John Lee Hooker, blues legend (June 21, 2001)
The elderly bluesman was instrumental in the roots of rock and roll with his earthy style of blues in the 50's with songs such as "Boom Boom", "Boogie Chillen", and "It Serves You Right (To Suffer)".
He remained hugely popular throughout the decades, even collaborating with 60's rockers Canned Heat
('Hooker n' Heat'), and well into the 90's on albums such as 'The Healer'. He even appeared on the
1980 movie 'The Blues Brothers' with John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. Hooker died at the age of 83 while still actively touring and performing.

ABlairican Pie

12-24-2009, 10:09 AM

Waylon Jennings, country artist (February 13, 2002)
The country legend began his career as a member of Buddy Holly and the Crickets in the 50's, and escaped a tragic fate by offering his plane seat to the Big Bopper on the final flight which took the life of Holly, Bopper (J.P. Richardson), and Richie Valens. In the 70's he performed such songs as
"Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys", as well as the theme to the popular show 'The Dukes of Hazzard'. Known as a country outlaw, he grew frustrated with the restrictions of the Nashville country scene on his creative freedom and adopted a more rock and roll image. He had not only a crippling drug problem for a time, but suffered from a near-fatal bout with hepatitis. He died from complications from diabetes at the age of 64.

Randy Castillo, rock and metal drummer (March 26, 2002)
The drummer for such acts as Ozzy Osbourne and Motley Crue first made his major appearance on Lita Ford's 'Dancin' On the Edge' album in 1984. He then appeared on Ozzy's 'The Ultimate Sin' album and remained with him throughout the 90's. He also appeared on a number of other metal projects and re-emerged as Motley Crue's new drummer after Tommy Lee's departure. He died of cancer at the age of 51.

Robbin Crosby , guitarist for Ratt (June 6, 2002)
The co-guitarist for the hugely successful L.A. metal band along with Warren DeMartini had a number of hits with the group including "Round and Round", "Back For More", "Lay It Down", and "I'm Insane". Striking a rather handsome figure in the band, his fortune took a serious downturn when he learned that he had AIDS in the 90's, most likely from his use of injected drugs. By that time the band had broken up prior to the grunge anti-metal backlash during the decade. Crosby suffered from a bizarre condition where his physical size expanded due to his illness. A pancreatic condition altered his metabolism, causing his weight gain. He was already a very tall rocker as well. He died from an injection of heroin at the age of 42, not AIDS as was previously reported in the press.

ABlairican Pie

12-24-2009, 10:34 AM

John Entwistle, bassist for The Who (June 27, 2002)
The iconic bass player for one of the world's biggest bands of all time died at the age of 57 due to a cocaine-related heart attack, on the eve of the band's
reunion summer tour. The bassist was one of the most important in rock and roll, with his distinctive thundering sound and style through many of the band's hits including "My Generation", "Boris the Spider", and "Eminence Front". He sang his own song, "My Wife", on their 1971 classic album 'Who's Next'. He was preceded in death by drummer Keith Moon who succumbed to an alcoholism-medication overdose in 1978. The band continued on with a few more albums and successive tours. The band would break up and reunite over the years, and went on with bassist Dino Palladino for the 2002 tour. Entwistle had a heart condition, which was complicated by his cocaine use in Las Vegas. A stripper friend with whom he spent his final hours discovered him dead during the night. The second tragic death in the band, the remaining members of The Who vowed to carry on with revolving members.

Layne Staley lead vocalist for Alice In Chains (April 5, 2002)
The tortured frontman of the Seattle band had fought a losing battle with heroin addiction over the years. The group, which had rose to fame during the growing grunge phenomenon during the late 80's-early 90's, was rather unique in their dark-sounding glam metal/alternative rock sound, not truly fitting in with the so-called "grunge" sound of their local peers. The band performed songs such as "Man In the Box", "We Die Young", "Them Bones",
"Dirt", "I Stay Away", "Got Me Wrong", and "Grind". Their 1992 album 'Dirt' depicted Staley's hellish addictions, and eventually, his drug problems prevented the band from touring and recording. Eventually, he left the band
and pursued his heroin habit. He was found dead in his Seattle apartment at the age of 34 after having been missing for weeks. He was presumed to have died on the anniversary of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain's death several years before, and had been dead for a few weeks from a lethal injection before being discovered. The band would regroup with a new singer, William DuVall.

ABlairican Pie

12-24-2009, 11:15 PM

Jam-Master Jay, DJ of rap group Run-D.M.C (October 30, 2002)
The group's DJ and turntableist, born Jason William Mizell, helped bring the rap trio to national prominence in the 80's when a new style of r & b hit mainstream airwaves. The band not only ushered in the era of rap and hip-hop with songs such as "It's Tricky", "My Adidas", and "You Be Illin'', but helped bring back Aerosmith to the forefront of music with their joint collaboration on their cover of "Walk This Way" in 1986. He was murdered at his studio in Queens, New York, by a drug dealer who was incensed by Jay's defiance of a blacklist of Tupak Shakur in the rap scene.

Maurice Gibb, member of The Bee Gees (January 12, 2003)
Twin brother to Robin Gibb and younger brother to Barry Gibb, Maurice penned many of the band's huge hits during the late 60's and throughout the 70's, including "New York Mining Disaster 1941" in 1967 and 1975's "Jive Talkin'", "You Should Be Dancing", "Stayin' Alive", which propelled them to becoming the biggest disco act of the 70's, as well as the soft hit "Too Much Heaven".
Gibb was also married to British pop star/actress Lulu. He died at the age of 53 from a twisted intestine in Miami Beach, Florida. His death signalled the end of The Bee Gees as a collective singing group.

Johnny Paycheck, country artist (February 19, 2003)
Known for the David Allan Coe-penned hit, "Take This Job and Shove It", Paycheck was a front runner in the "Outlaw Country" movement of the mid-70's. His career,aided by changing his image to that of an outlaw and renegade, was marked by drug abuse and brushes with the law. Though he cleaned up his image in his later years, he became ill with emphesyma and asthma before he died at the age of 64.

Ty Longly, guitarist for Great White (February 20, 2003)
Though the guitarist for the blues-based L.A. metal band was not a well-known name, the circumstances of his death were one of the most tragic events in the decade. One of the band's pyrotechnics accidentally set ablaze The Station, a club in Rhode Island, where the band had begun their set for a huge crowd. The massive fire engulfed the building and claimed nearly 100 lives. The band began a series of benefit concerts to raise medical funds for those who were maimed and injured. While the band's 80's heyday were long behind them, Great White had begun a long climb in recent years to reclaim their fan base while releasing new music. Longley had only been with the band since 2000. Great White still continues to record new songs and perform.

ABlairican Pie

12-26-2009, 03:34 PM

Nell Carter, actress and singer (January 23, 2003)
The actress who played the lovable housekeeper on the 80's NBC sitcom 'Gimme a Break!" was also noted for her singing in stage productions as 'Hair' and 'Dreamgirls'. Unfortunately, she also suffered from a series of personal and career setbacks which took a toll on her health and well-being. She died at the age of 54 due to heart disease and diabetes.

Howie Epstein, bassist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (February 23, 2003)
Epstein joined the band in 1982 in time for the 'Long After Dark' tour after the departure of original bassist Ron Blair. In addition to being a team player, he also played in recording sessions with notables such as Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Stevie Nicks, and others. He also was professionally and romantically involved with Carlene Carter, the daughter of June Carter Cash, and assisted her recording career. Unfortunately, after his personal life deteriorated due to drugs, he died from drug-related complications at the age of 47.

Edwin Starr, soul singer (April 2, 2003)
R & B singer Edwin Starr's big hit, the anti-Vietnam War protest anthem "War", topped the charts in 1969 at the height of America's involvement in that conflict. The song, with its impassioned lyrics, "War--what is it good for? Absolutely nothing! Good God, y'all!" were impressively recorded on the spot in one take. Starr continued to record soul and dance hits into the 70's and 80's. He died from a heart attack at the age of 61 while living in England.

ABlairican Pie

12-26-2009, 04:15 PM

Little Eva, early 60's singer (April 10, 2003)
The teen singer most known for her pop hit "The Loco Motion", also had a number of popular singles, though one song written for the girl group The Crystals, was rather controversial: "He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss)". Eva explained that her boyfriend physically assaulted her regularly--this was strangely considered "proof" that he loved her. She recorded a number of other teeny-bopper dance-pop songs, including the song "Makin' With the Magilla" for an episode of the 1964 Hanna-Barbera cartoon series "The Magilla Gorilla Show". In the midst of a comeback, she admitted that she did not enjoy Kylie Minogue's late-80's version of her song. The singer, whose real name was Eva Narcissus Boyd, died from cervical cancer at the age of 59.

Noel Redding, bassist with the Jimi Hendrix Experience (May 11, 2003)
The British bass player for Jimi Hendrix's trio in the late 60's had a brief period of fame from 1966 to 1969 before the legendary guitarist broke up the band and formed Band of Gypsys with new members. He was considered a timekeeper more than a virtuoso in the band, creating the bedrock of sound on which Hendrix would build his leads and solos. After leaving The Experience in 1969, he pursued other projects and one-off bands with little success. He quit the music business in 1972, though re-appeared with other performers over the years. He sued to receive royalties from Hendrix recordings after he left. He was found dead in his home in Ireland due to what the coroner described as "shock haemorrhage due to oesophageal varices in reaction to cirrhosis of the liver." He was only 57 years old.

Barry White, soul singer (July 4, 2003)
The deep-voiced singer whose singing style is clearly identified as one of the most sensuous voices in all of pop and r & b, first found fame as the leader of the Love Unlimited Orchestra in the early 70's. His hits, include "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up", What Am I Gonna Do with You", and "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me", worked a particular libidinal magic on women who were instantly put in the mood by his resonating bass vocals. He also made a few appearances on shows and commercials, including two episodes of 'The Simpsons'. White died of kidney failure at the age of 58.

ABlairican Pie

12-26-2009, 05:01 PM

Warren Zevon, singer-songwriter (September 7, 2003)
The man who gave us "Werewolves of London" in 1978 also wrote a number of biting songs with social commentary, such as "Lawyers, Guns, and Money", "The Envoy", "Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me", "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner", and "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead". He collaborated with such performers as Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, and R.E.M. In his later years, he found that he was terminally ill with inoperable mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, and died at the age of 56. Some words of advice he offered on the David Letterman show about the brevity of life: "Enjoy every sandwich."

Robert Palmer, soul-rock singer (September 26, 2003)
The British singer began his career singing songs about the good life on tracks which often straddled the line between rock and white r & b in the 70's. He became famous for the Carribean-flavored hit "Every Kinda People" in 1978, followed by his huge 1979 track ""Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)". In the 80's, he formed the supergroup The Power Station, which included members of Duran Duran and disco band Chic, in an effort to create a huge rock sound. The band scored with major songs such as "Some Like It Hot" and a cover of T-Rex's "Get It On (Bang a Gong)". Unfortunately, the band broke up prior to a tour when Palmer decided to record a successful album, 'Riptide', which featured signature tracks as "Addicted To Love" and "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On". His videos featured beautiful women with a strange, alluring "robotic" look. Another later song, "Simply Irresistible" continued in that vein. His 1988 album 'Heavy Nova' was named for his love of both heavy metal and bossa nova music. Palmer died suddenly of a heart attack at his home in Switzerland at the age of 54.

Bobby Hatfield, member of The Righteous Brothers (November 5, 2003)
One half of the 60's singing duo The Righteous Brothers, along with Bill Medley, performed on such hits as "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" and "Unchained Melody" in the mid-60's. Before going on to appear with Medley at a reunion performance, Hatfield was found dead of a heart attack due to cocaine use.

ABlairican Pie

12-27-2009, 12:23 PM

Eric Brann, guitarist for Iron Butterfly (July 25, 2003)
The guitarist for the groundbreaking psychedelic 60's group Iron Butterfly was originally a child prodigy who was about to enter the Boston Symphony Orchestra, bout found himself enamored by the rock and roll scene. At the age of 16, he joined Iron Butterfly, and was featured on the band's 17-minute opus, "Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida", the band's huge hit. He was also interested in acting. Brann died of a heart attack at the age of 52.

Sam Phillips, producer at Sun Records (July 30, 2003)
The legendary producer of Sun Records, the famed recording studio in Memphis, was known for his contributions to popularizing rock and roll by his work with groundbreaking work with artists such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Ike Turner, B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, and others. He was deeply interested in the blues: "The blues, it got people- black and white- to think about life, how difficult, yet also how good it can be. They would sing about it; they would pray about it; they would preach about it. This is how the relieved the burden of what existed day in and day out." He died at the age of 80.

Michael Kamen, composer (November 18, 2003)
Kamen conducted symphonic scores in his work with such bands as Pink Floyd, Queen, Rush, Aerosmith, Metallica, Kate Bush, The Eurythmics, and many others. In addition to the monumental production of Pink Floyd's 'The Wall' in Germany in 1990, Kamen conducted the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra on Metallica's 'S & M' ("Symphony and Metallica") album in 1999. Kamen died of a heart attack at the age of 55.

phoebe7165

12-27-2009, 12:43 PM

Dimebag Darrell (December 8, 2004)

No musical death came was more shocking than the murder of former Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell. During a gig with his new band Damageplan in December 2004, crazed fan Nathan Gale rushed the stage in Columbus, Ohio, and planted five bullets into Dimebag, killing him instantly. The shooter ended up killing four others and injuring two more before being killed by police officers. Next time you are at the Mink on Main, be sure to order up a "Far Beyond Driven" in Dime's honor.

So nice to see Dimebag make the Top 10. Sorry that Dimebag is even on ANY musical death list though.:mad:

phoebe7165

12-27-2009, 12:47 PM

Denis "Piggy" D'Amour, guitarist of the progressivethrash metal band Voivod (August 26, 2005)
Quebecois guitarist of the French Canadian band who, like Death, sang about topics of scientific ethics and rather sci-fi themes on albums such as "Dimension Hatröss", "Nothingface", and "The Outer Limits", died of colon cancer at the age of 45. The band, whose lineup included in recent years former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, decided to breakup following the final
album "Infini", which includes posthumously recorded tracks by Piggy.

Weird because my brother & I were just talking about Piggy the other day because Keith is driving up to NYC from NC to see Voivod at the Nokia Theater!!:rock:

phoebe7165

12-27-2009, 12:53 PM

Robbin Crosby , guitarist for Ratt (June 6, 2002)
The co-guitarist for the hugely successful L.A. metal band along with Warren DeMartini had a number of hits with the group including "Round and Round", "Back For More", "Lay It Down", and "I'm Insane". Striking a rather handsome figure in the band, his fortune took a serious downturn when he learned that he had AIDS in the 90's, most likely from his use of injected drugs. By that time the band had broken up prior to the grunge anti-metal backlash during the decade. Crosby suffered from a bizarre condition where his physical size expanded due to his illness. A pancreatic condition altered his metabolism, causing his weight gain. He was already a very tall rocker as well. He died from an injection of heroin at the age of 42, not AIDS as was previously reported in the press.

It's said that Robin weighed in excess of 400 lbs at the time of his death. What a terrible end to a rather young life.

And yes, he was nice looking in his Ratt days!! Wasn't his wife on the cover of, I think it was, one of Slaughter's albums?

Pitooey

12-27-2009, 08:49 PM

Don't forget Luther Vandross.

ABlairican Pie

12-28-2009, 09:52 AM

It's said that Robin weighed in excess of 400 lbs at the time of his death. What a terrible end to a rather young life.

And yes, he was nice looking in his Ratt days!! Wasn't his wife on the cover of, I think it was, one of Slaughter's albums?
I saw a picture of him a year or so before he died and it was bizarre, he looked like a lumberjack! :eek: I didn't know why he looked like that until later.
He was rather quite handsome in his days with Ratt. Those fast days in the limelight really caught up with him in a bad way. :(

I'm not sure if that's his wife on the cover of a Slaughter album, I wouldn't be surprised. And of course, David Coverdale's future wife, Tawny Kitaen, was on the cover of two Ratt albums (the 1983 self-titled EP with "You Think You're Tough") and 'Out of the Cellar'. I forgot the name of the Playboy model on the cover of 'Invasion of Your Privacy'.

ABlairican Pie

12-28-2009, 10:41 AM

Ray Charles, r & b and rock & roll pioneer (June 10, 2004)
The early rock & roll and r & b legend was noted for writing a plethora of songs in spite of his blindness at an early age. He made travels in the early days of his music career with Quincy Jones, with whom he collaborated. He played tunes such as "What I'd Say", "Hallelujah, I Love Her So", "Georgia On My Mind", "Hit the Road, Jack", and others on piano, and expanded his repertoire to include country in addition to his creation of soul. He also made a number of t.v. and film appearances, including 'Saturday Night Live', 'The Blues Brothers', and 'Spy Hard' as a blind bus driver. He was also known for his rousing version of "America the Beautiful". Charles died at the age of 73 from liver cancer. A film biopic starring Jamie Foxx, titled "Ray", was released around the time of his death.

Rick James, r & b performer (August 6, 2004)
In addition to the tawdry 1981 hit "Super Freak", Rick James' life truly lived up to the song's lyrics with his toxic indulgences and living on the wild side. He also performed songs such as "You and I" in the late 70's, as well as "Mary Jane" and "Cold Blooded" in 1983. A flamboyant performer, his personal life became news when it was reported that he and his future wife Tanya Hijazi had held a female music executive in bondage for hours, while performing sexual acts and torture with a burning crack pipe. He was imprisoned for two years for the offense. He died from pulmonary and cardiac failure which was brought on by various illnesses including diabetes and a heart attack. He was 56 years old.

Laura Branigan, pop singer/songwriter (August 26, 2004)
The singer who gave us the vibrant hit "Gloria", which was featured in the 1983 film 'Flashdance' also had a number of popular tracks including "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You", co-written by Michael Bolton, "Solitaire", and "Self-Control". Her soaring voice and smouldering looks endeared her to many overseas as well as in America, making her a diva. She passed away from an untreated brain aneurysm at the age of 47.

ABlairican Pie

12-30-2009, 10:48 AM

phoebe7165

12-30-2009, 05:38 PM

Dimebag Darrell (August 20, 1966-December 8, 2004)

No death had as much impact on rock and metal fans as the devastating assassination of "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, former guitarist of metal band Pantera, whose new band, DamagePlan, had just taken the stage at a club in Columbus, Ohio. A deranged ex-Marine, who had outstanding personal issues with the band, had slipped through security and open fire on the axeman who was performing the first song of the evening, then proceeded to shoot other persons in the club, some fatally. A police officer shot and killed the gunman
before others could be hurt.

Also, I cannot even begin to imagine what Vinnie Paul went through, watching his brother being gunned down right in front of him. When he was on That Metal Show, he was saying he didn't want to continue in music, understandably. On the flip side though, music is what got him through his grief. Actually brought tears to my eyes.

ABlairican Pie

12-31-2009, 03:05 AM

Dimebag Darrell was a kind-hearted soul who was generous, had a great sense of humor, and lived for a good time. Which was what made his murder so unthinkable.

Born and raised in Texas, Darrell and his brother Vinnie Paul Abbott grew up in a musical household. Their father Jerry owned a country recording studio and played guitar himself, and passed his love for music onto his sons. Dime picked up the guitar while Vinnie began to play drums. Darrell was in love with KISS, and then tuned into the heavy sounds of Black Sabbath. As a teenager, he and Vinnie started Pantera as one more "hair" metal band, typical of club bands at the time in the early/mid-80's, playing the usual favorites, though "Dime" possessed a command of the instrument far beyond his peers. He won every guitar talent contest he entered, to the point where the organizers did not want him to come back. Pantera wowed crowds while releasing a number of independent albums throughout the 80's.
The band replaced their former vocalist Terry Glaze with a new powerhouse vocalist, Phil Anselmo, who had more of a hardcore approach in his style. Yet, as the band entered the 90's, they chose to go in a completely heavier
direction than where they had been for the past several years.

ABlairican Pie

12-31-2009, 10:27 AM

In 1990, while Hurricane Hugo stranded many travellers on the East Coast, the event turned out to be very fortunate for Pantera. A record label talent search member happened to show up in a bar where the band was playing and hosting a raucous birthday party. Midway through the band's set, the a & r person left abruptly. Thinking that he was disappointed with the performance, the band continued to play and entertain guests. To their surprise, the man came back and told them that they were the most exciting band he had ever seen, and that he contacted the label about signing the group! The band signed with Atco, a major label, and at that point, everything
changed for the band--they jettisoned their slick hair-metal past in a heartbeat and became the true Pantera that everyone would come to know: the intense four-piece full of fire and rage, inventing a new metal style known as power groove. Dime's leads were blazing, Anselmo's vocals were shrieking, and bassist Rex Brown and Vinnie laid down a solid rhythm section that was completely thundering.

The band's first album, 'Cowboys From Hell', is considered the real album
that invented the 90's, a year and a half before Seattle grunge largely defined the decade. Pantera was metal, but of a different sort--it was thrash, but had an uncanny, blazing edge full of intensity and angst. The standout tracks were "Cemetary Gates", "Primal Concrete Sledge",
"Domination", "Psycho Holiday", and of course, the pulverizing title track which stated ominously, "We're taking over this town!"

ABlairican Pie

12-31-2009, 09:06 PM

Around that same time, Pantera played a major metal festival in the Soviet Union which had celebrated the fall of the Berlin Wall and the opening to the West. They were able to use their new-found status as America's ambassadors of metal when they ran afoul of the law back home in Texas: They were confronted by police for throwing rocks at a stop sign, and in order to avoid arrest, they explained that they were a rock band who had just played in Moscow on behalf of the United States. The officers shook their heads and simply let them off!

While the debut album forged a sound, it was the second album which defined them: 1992's 'Vulgar Display of Power' was a scorching record that defied any and all expectations of metal in a day and age which was growing increasingly un-metal and tepid in a day and age of grunge, alternative light, and once-heavy bands spreading into other less thrashing directions. Pantera still flew the metal flag on the album with tracks such as their anthem
"Walk", "Mouth For War", "A New Level", the dark power ballad "This Love", "By Demons Be Driven", and "Hollow", One song, "F***ing Hostile", was so furiously fast and fiery that the Abbott brothers' father ripped the album off the turntable, insisting that the listener would think that there was something wrong with the record! But Dime and Vinnie explained that that was the way it was supposed to sound. Dime was not about being angry, he was completely an "up" kind of guy, always positive, and Pantera was not so much about being angry as they were about intensity. Metal guitar was Dime's outlet to get out his frustrations. Otherwise, he was a completely cheerful, friendly person.

Dimebag got his name, of course, from a drug reference: Since he was often broke, he was only able to afford a dimebag (a $10 bag) of marijuana. In the early days of the band's flirtation with the press, he was simply called by the more PC moniker "Diamond" Darrell. He insisted on the change to Dimebag, or Dime, but in spite of the term, he was a not a user of hard drugs, just pot--and drank beer and alcohol copiously, as was the duty of every good Texan (according to them). He never let either his consumption of weed or booze
take over his personality. He seemed completely in control of his vices.

Meanwhile, as 'Vulgar Display of Power' became the metal album of the 90's, concert audiences grew. Pantera were the band to watch.

ABlairican Pie

01-02-2010, 05:28 PM

For the next two years, Pantera had become the most anticipated band in all of metal--or what was left of it commercially in the day and age of grunge, alternative, and hip-hop. Playing heavy music was somehow uncouth and a relic of a dead decade. Grunge was quickly becoming a movement that had burst on the scene as a new, turbulent take on metal and cutting edge rock with its lo-fi, raw sound and now quickly descended into touchy-feely alternative pop. Even many thrash heroes in recent years had fallen prey to the "heavy-is-bad" mentality and began toning down their sound to remain commercially successful. Not so with Pantera. Their whole sound and image was purely metal, a jarring assault on the senses. Dimebag's whole intent was to make Pantera's sound completely metal--literally metal like guitars resembling buzz-saws and crunching steel shards. They were not driven by trends and waves of fashion. And for this, their diehard fan base made their next album a #1 hit.

The hugely anticipated album, 1994's 'Far Beyond Driven', debuted at the very top of the charts, beating out Swedish popsters Ace of Base. The album contained more smouldering tracks such as "I'm Broken", "Five Minutes Alone", "Becoming", "Strength Beyond Strength", "Good Friends and a Bottle of Pills", and a gentle cover of Black Sabbath's "Planet Caravan". While hitting #1 on the charts was an awesome feat for the band, some critics felt, however, that the band had contrived their sound a little too much to sound heavy. Not a natural progression, but a deliberate attempt to out-heavy its predecessor. Regardless, fans were amazed at the new release and flocked to their concerts. Though 1994 lived in infamy as the day that grunge died with the suicide of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, it was a personal triumph for Pantera as they proved that a hardcore metal band could top the charts in a decidedly non-metal age.

The album cover for the new album previously showed an explicit picture of a drill performing a sort of heavy metal *proctology*, but was quickly replaced by the more familiar image of a drill boring through a skull.

It was also during this time that Dimebag also made the switch from Dean guitars to Washburn guitars, as the previous guitar company had gone out of business. Dime's choice of amps, Randall, a solid-state brand which provided his desired "brittle" tone, were owned by Washburn and so Dime's switch to a new guitar company was logical. For the next several years, Washburn made a number of quality guitars which resembled his angular Dean models.

Even though the band appeared to be on the top of their game and had become the most popular metal band of the 90's (now that Metallica were undergoing radical changes in their once-mighty sound), underneath it all, there was an ugly, shameful secret that the band had found itself having to deal with in its next outing.

ABlairican Pie

01-03-2010, 11:14 PM

Unfortunately, lightning did not strike twice for the band two years later after
'Far Beyond Driven'. The band's followup, 'The Great Southern Trendkill' from 1996 saw the band grappling with internal conflicts, as well as the fact that metal--or what was left of it commercially, had undergone a bizarre transformation into what was termed NU-metal (new urban metal) with bands such as KoRn and the like playing a sort of rap-influenced metal on detuned seven-string guitars. It was a new attempt at heaviness that had been sorely lacking in the past few years, but it practically had no connection to traditional metal. Dimebag was irritated with the whole idea of seven-string guitars. These players were cheating on guitar--they would simply play the bottom one or two strings and ignore the rest. Some musical versatility. Heaviness could be easy be achieved from a regular six-string.

Going back to the band, in 1995, after the 'Far Beyond Driven' tour wrapped up, Pantera saw personality changes with Phil Anselmo. He grew increasingly withdrawn and difficult to communicate with. He seemed more content to record his parts for the new album from his own home in Louisana rather than in Texas with the rest of the band. The band understood that he had some health issues, his back was injured and in serious pain from his strenuous performances onstage. Doctors recommended that he undergo surgery to correct the problems. However, Anselmo had his own ideas about
"medication". He tried alcohol, but this was affecting his time onstage with the band. Doctors insisted that he take a year off to have his back recover, but this was not an option for Phil. He did not want to take that much time off, so he found his own brand of treatment.

It all came to a head on July 13, 1996, when the band played a homecoming show in Texas. After the concert, the band was told that Anselmo had overdosed on heroin and was taken to the hospital. His heart had stopped for five minutes and was revived by a shot of adrenaline. After waking up in the hospital, the nurse working in his room said "Welcome back to life, you overdosed on heroin." The band was horrified at the news--they had no idea that he used the drug. They were completely against it and warned him not to use it again. Embarrassed, Anselmo apologized and said he would never try it again. His near-death experience sobered him up to the reality of his addictions, but only briefly. Behind their backs, he continued to use, and this created further problems with the band.

Meanwhile, 'The Great Southern Trendkill' failed commercially to live up to the promise of the previous albums, though much great music is found on the recording. The album's most popular track, "Drag the Waters" received much
radio airplay, while other songs, such as "Suicide Note, Part I" (an acoustic number) followed by "Suicide Note, Part II" (an electric composition), "War Nerve", "10's", "13 Steps To Nowhere", and the title track, became familiar fare for Pantera fans. One song gained attention through Guitar World magazine, of which Dime was a regular columnist with his "Riffer Madness" lessons, the song "Floods", whose stunning, turbulently majestic solo and outro riff earned it a spot on a list for the Best Guitar Solos Of All Time at #15.

Strangely, the album came out at a time of nadir in metal. Grunge and alternative were reaching their zenith and about to be replaced by hip-hop and NU-metal. Rock fans had forgotten about the awesome ferocity of thrash and extreme metal. Instead, the emphasis was on what was "hip" and trendy. But Dime wasn't too worried. Yes, metal was definitely not on top right now. But he still got a thrill and a charge out of listening to his old favorites such as Judas Priest's 'British Steel' album. The title of Pantera's new album was a reference to defy current phony waves of "hipness" in music--trendkill, in other words. Forget about trends, go for the real stuff, even if it wasn't popular. It made one into a real person. Pantera was definitely a great place to start.

ABlairican Pie

01-05-2010, 02:16 AM

The next year, in 1997, Pantera released 'Official Live: 101 Proof', the band's only concert album. The record featured songs including "A New Level", "Walk", "Becoming", "Five Minutes Alone",
"Sandblasted Skin", "War Nerve", "Hostile" (an edited title of the track from 'Vulgar Display'),
"Dom/Hollow", a combination of the songs "Domination" and "Hollow", and two studio songs,
"Where You Come From", and "I Can't Hide".

In concert, Pantera were a fearsomely powerful unit. Fans were bludgeoned with the intense sound of the band, as well as Phil Anselmo's frequent verbal tirades. Whenever a fan heckled him or got out of line, he would vocally threaten them. Sometimes the verbal barrage got a little out of control. One time when he made a threat to one member of the audience, he was served with a lawsuit. Anselmo replied that all he needed was five minutes alone with them--and the song was born.

Regardless, Pantera was one of the biggest touring metal acts of the 90's, if not practically the only metal act outside of Metallica. But Pantera, who had idolized Metallica back in the 80's, felt they had sold out with the cropped hair and "Alterna-paloozica" pseudo-metal image by 1996. Pantera were so big that they were able to take bands such as Anthrax on the road with them, as the once-powerful thrash band was struggling commercially due to lack of label support. Metal was now a bad word in the industry, but Pantera was a force to be dealt with. In fact, Dimebag appeared on Anthrax's
'Stomp 442' album in 1995, but unfortunately, in spite of the quality of the music, the album died on the charts due to lack of promotion.

ekkostar

01-05-2010, 01:09 PM

Robert Palmer, soul-rock singer (September 26, 2003)
The British singer began his career singing songs about the good life on tracks which often straddled the line between rock and white r & b in the 70's. He became famous for the Carribean-flavored hit "Every Kinda People" in 1978, followed by his huge 1979 track ""Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)". In the 80's, he formed the supergroup The Power Station, which included members of Duran Duran and disco band Chic, in an effort to create a huge rock sound. The band scored with major songs such as "Some Like It Hot" and a cover of T-Rex's "Get It On (Bang a Gong)". Unfortunately, the band broke up prior to a tour when Palmer decided to record a successful album, 'Riptide', which featured signature tracks as "Addicted To Love" and "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On". His videos featured beautiful women with a strange, alluring "robotic" look. Another later song, "Simply Irresistible" continued in that vein. His 1988 album 'Heavy Nova' was named for his love of both heavy metal and bossa nova music. Palmer died suddenly of a heart attack at his home in Switzerland at the age of 54.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y201/ekkostar/R063r7%20P41m3r/wembley97-04.jpg

Actually, there's speculation among fans that he didn't die from a heart attack, but he had some secret drug problems in his later years which led to his demise. He also started to become VERY secretive later on during the 90s for some unknown reason (I have my own personal theories that his "girlfriend" at the time was really just a pusher/enabler).
I'm hoping that one day the truth comes out about Robert, that a lot of rumors are finally laid to rest and he finally gets treated like the Pop/Rock legend he really is. If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have artists like Ne-Yo, Justin Timberlake or Robin Thicke.

Zoneboy

01-05-2010, 01:20 PM

Robert Palmer was great and vastly underrated IMO. The bad thing though is that most radio stations seem to think that he was a one hit wonder because they only thing they'll play is "Bad Case of Loving You." If I'm lucky, I might get to hear "Addicted to Love" but it's always the extended version which I despise. I never hear "Clues" , "Simply Irresistible" or my favorite, "Every Kinda People." I will hear "Bang a Gong" and "Some Like it Hot" by Power station on occasion.

ABlairican Pie

01-06-2010, 10:49 AM

Between albums, Dime and Vinnie decided to take a break from the band for a moment to appear a different type of project. They had met one of their idols, outlaw country legend David Allen Coe, during a signing. Dime tried to introduce himself to him, but Coe, thinking Dime was just another wild and crazy fan, politely waved him off. Dime decided to give him a video telling him about his band, with a concert clip of the group in action in Japan, with fans going insane during the show. Watching the video of Pantera, he realized that Dime wasn't some nutty anonymous fan, he was a big-time guitarist, and that his father knew him as a country artist. Dime's dad was a big name in Texas--how could he forget Jerry Abbott? Coe apologized for not
being aware of the band, and invited the brothers Dime and Vinnie to do a recording with him. What a concept: the outlaws of rock doing a recording with the outlaw of country!

The collaboration would be released posthumously after Dime's passing.

ABlairican Pie

01-07-2010, 10:55 AM

Pantera finally recorded their final album, 2000's 'Reinventing the Steel', in 1999. This period was the beginning of the end for the mighty band. For one, the Abbott brothers faced the devastating loss of their mother to cancer in the last year of the century. She had always been there for Dime and Vinnie, and supported them emotionally and financially in every way. With her passing, the two brothers faced what seemed to be an insurmountable struggle without their constant. The two brothers also faced
problems within the studio and on tour as well. Namely, vocalist Phil Anselmo.

The new year of the new decade and century appeared to give hope for metal, after a long period of NU-metal's ascendancy. The rock scene was ready for new blood, or a little rejuvenated old blood. And Pantera was ripe to make its re-emergence onto the scene. The album's title said it all, it was time to re-create metal, inject it into the musical landscape dotted with trends and phoniness. The new album featured such tracks as the popular song "Revolution Is My Name", as well as "Goddamn Electric" which featured a guitar solo by Slayer's Kerry King recorded at a brief session during Ozzfest, "Yesterday Don't Mean S***", "Hellbound", "We'll Grind That Axe For a Long Time", and "I'll Cast a Shadow". It was praised by many critics, and welcomed by all.

In spite of the buzz about the upcoming tour, Anselmo seemed not to be into it. He was aloof and distant, even onstage. He did state during his onstage rants that even though the record company insisted that they go NU-metal, he avowed that he could kill the NU-metallers with his bare hands. For all his bravado, there was something a little amiss about Anselmo. For several songs, the band could build up momentum, and then he would go off on a tangent for a while before continuing onto the next song. Sometimes he would act bored, as if he was not interested in doing the next song, and just sit on the stage in a huff. Often he would spend his time tossing cans of beer to the crowd.
He even would make an appearance with one of the opening bands, such as Morbid Angel, before taking the stage with his own band. It might have been fun, but his activities indicated that his heart was not quite in it.

Another disappointing thing was that, as much as Dime was his musical partner in songwriting, he never let the guitarist his own shredding solo spot. Perhaps less attention would be paid to the frontman? As time wore on, it would become clear as to what Anselmo's problems were, and it would spell trouble for the rest of the band.

hippiechick60

01-07-2010, 01:55 PM

George Harrison (November 29, 2001)

Arguably the most innovative and spiritual Beatle passed onto the new stage of life at the end of 2001. It's still hard to believe that only two of the Fab Four survive, seeing that the entire mob of the Rolling Stones is still stomping the earth and tour with unsettling regularity. "The Quiet Beatle" succumbed to lung cancer, and his ashes were scattered into the Ganges River in keeping with his Hindu faith.
yeah i rember hearing about george on the radio they kept on saying that he died and then that he didn't die it was a little messed up for me!! but it also made me mad that they were treating it like they had no resept for him you know!?

ABlairican Pie

01-08-2010, 10:47 AM

Into the new decade, the problems with Anselmo not only continued, but worsened. He demanded that there would be no further Pantera material with him unless he were able to pursue collaborations with other bands. He wanted to record a second album with Down, his side project with members of Corrosion Of Conformity, Eyehategod, and Crowbar, and perform with other acts as well. The rest of Pantera were fully in support of his extra-cirricular activities, they figured he would be back in time. Anselmo took Pantera bassist Rex Brown with him, and while the two members were away in the wilds of Lousiana rehearsing and recording with Down, the Abbott brothers waited out his absence. They found that they were in for a long wait.

The remaining band realized that Anselmo was not about to come back. He had been missing band meetings, blowing off band business, and not even the urging of the record label president could pursuade him to come back. When he did to do one more tour with them, the worst event in recent history helped place the band on eternal hold--9/11. The band had hoped a tour with Slayer and other bands would get him in the mood to stay on, but once they had landed in Ireland, everyone stared at them with horrified looks on their faces. They were puzzled as to why they were acting like this, until they had found out two airliners had been flown into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon.
At that point everything had changed for Anselmo. He was afraid, as an American, to go on the road in Europe where he felt like an open target for an anti-American terrorist or radical. They cancelled the tour and flew back home. The rest of the band hoped that he would come to his senses and stay with the band. Their hope was all in vain, as the next year had dragged on.

floyd2006

01-09-2010, 12:25 AM

No John Lennon or Kurt Cobain? Awkward!

Zoneboy

01-09-2010, 12:32 AM

No John Lennon or Kurt Cobain? Awkward!

This thread covers the past decade, Lennon died in 1980, Cobain in 1994.

ABlairican Pie

01-09-2010, 01:43 AM

2002 was officially the worst year of Pantera's career. The Abbott brothers had waited out Anselmo's hibernation in the bayou with Rex and their fellow Down bandmates, and Dime and Vinnie were at a loss to explain to fans what was going on. They simply did not know. The tension and waiting was maddening. In 2003, the band released a best-of compilation, 'The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits!', featuring all their most popular songs as well as a few covers by Black Sabbath and Ted Nugent, but this was the final album. At this time, the Abbott brothers received a rude awakening indicating where Anselmo really was at. They learned that a Metal Hammer interview with the vocalist showed Phil completely bad-mouthing and criticizing Dime and Vinnie--i.e., "Dimebag deserves to be beaten severely"--and other ugly comments. Dime and Vinnie were horrified and perplexed. What made him say these things, after all? They were all brothers in the band, and could not figure out what could set Anselmo off in this manner. Phil later explained that this was all taken "out of context", but Vinnie listened to the tapes which confirmed Anselmo was being honest and not being misquoted in any way.

The revelation of Anselmo's cruel attitudes were a devastating shock to the system of both Dime and Vinnie. Dime cried and sulked, they knew Pantera was over. It would have been nice if Phil and Rex had come up and said they quit, but they had apparently dragged their heels in a cowardly fashion. Vinnie knew it was the heroin and drugs which affected Phil's judgement, but this did not excuse his actions. It was horrible that a band that was about to go on forever, and brought so much hope to metal fans was dying in such an ignoble fashion. What could the Abbotts do? The only logical step: Start over.

Assembling a few new bandmates, the Abbott brothers were back in business as a new unit: DamagePlan, featuring former Halford guitarist Pat Lachtman on vocals and bassist Bob Zilla. They were not out to replicate Pantera, but to make a new step in the evolution of Pantera's music without it being Pantera, but a bold new direction with the familiar power groove feel, a little more commercial but no less heavy. The band's debut album, called 'New Found Power', was a musical triumph over crippling adversity, a show of strength in the face of challenges. And the songs weren't bad either: A radio single, "Save Me", as well as "Pride", "Explode" and "Breathing New Life",
contained Dime's raw guitar playing and Lachtman's strong vocals. Some fans were skeptical of their new direction, but most listened with great interest. It was a glorious rebirth for the Abbotts. If only it could have lasted.

ABlairican Pie

01-09-2010, 10:59 PM

In the fall of 2004, the tour was going well for DamagePlan. Well, not quite as
to be expected. Dime had exasperating problems with Lachtman's attitude and such in a period of days. But one more night, and the band would return home for the holidays. It had been a very good year.

The final date was December 8, 2004, at Club Alrosa Villa , in Columbus, Ohio.
Dime and the rest of the band were unaware of a breach of security earlier that day as one unnamed person tried to break past the bodyguards. It was time to rock and roll. The band prepared to take the stage. Vinnie asked Dime how everything was before hitting the stage. "Van Halen?" he asked Dime. "Van f***ing Halen", Dime replied. Van Halen was their code word for get wild, get crazy, time to make it like a total Van Halen concert, time for a party onstage. The brothers marched out on the stage for one last time.

A few seconds later, hell would take them. Nathan Gale, an ex-Marine discharged for mental illness, had slipped through security, apparently undetected, pulled out his handgun, and fired at Dime from behind at close range. Dime was full-on playing guitar on the band's first song of the evening and fell to the floor. Pandemonium ripped through the club as Gale began firing. Several others died in the shooting spree: fan Nathan Bray, 23, club employee Erin Halk, 29, and Pantera security official Jeff "Mayhem" Thompson, 40, and injured longtime Pantera and Damageplan drum technician John "Kat" Brooks and Damageplan tour manager Chris Paluska. Fans screamed and ran for cover as Gale opened fire. Through the horrific bloodshed, police officer James Niggemeyer shot and killed Gale before he could kill and hurt any others.

News broke quickly throughout the rock and metal community of the tragic assassination. Fans and others pondered painfully, why?? Dime was a kind, friendly sort of soul, in love with a good time and having a very giving spirit.
There was no one he could ever want to hurt or disappoint. Over the next several days, details emerged over the identity and the possible motives of Nathan Gale. It was speculated that he was upset over the breakup of Pantera, as they were his favorite band. Were Dime and Vinnie to blame for the breakup? A more credible explanation gave insight into his psychological state which prompted the murders: A schizophrenic, he began to have delusions that the band was "watching" him and laughing at him. He also began to accuse the band of stealing "his" songs that became Pantera classics, that he in fact wrote them! In the mind of a mentally disturbed man who was not on medication at the time, as well as the fact that, shockingly, his mother gave him a weapon as a gift after his military discharge, Gale's instability and twisted thirst for imagined retribution proved to be a dangerous combination. Fortunately, Officer Niggemeyer cured those demons tearing at Gale's psyche once and for all.

ABlairican Pie

01-09-2010, 11:50 PM

Vinnie and Dime's longtime life partner, Rita Haney, were devastated over the death of his brother and her boyfriend. This Christmas would be unhappy for all. But what was most disturbing was the response from Anselmo: when Rita called him and told him the news of Dime's murder, Phil, strung out on heroin as usual, mouthed some completely callous and insensitive remarks about the incident. That was it. Not only was Phil uninvited to the funeral, he would also be shot on sight if he dared make it over to see them. Dime and Rita wanted nothing more to do with him, and no one could blame them. To this day, wounds have never healed between Dime's brother and girlfriend and Phil.
They have blamed Phil for destroying Pantera, and that his sabotage of the band reduced the once-mighty guitarist from a hero rocking arenas to a lowly club draw where security was less tighter than during his during his heyday with the band which would easily sell out stadiums.

It was believed that one of the reasons why Phil damaged his standing in Pantera was that he no longer wanted to play in larger venues, that he appeared uncomfortable with the band's success and preferred clubs and smaller theaters. There was speculation that over time, Pantera would reunite, but with Dime's death, the chances were forever blown for such an opportunity. Given Phil's betrayal over his hateful comments regarding Dime,
it would have been unlikely anyway. Phil has since appeared very contrite over his death and has offered an olive branch of peace to Vinnie, and the offer still stands.

Dime was buried in Texas with a large number of rock and metal musicians in attendance, including his friend Zakk Wylde, Eddie Van Halen, whom Dime was completely thrilled to meet before his death, Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains, and many others. Dime was buried in a KISS coffin complete with the guitar Eddie Van Halen used on the cover of the 'Van Halen II' album, the Judas Priest 'Metalogy' box set, and a "Zakk Tooth Grin" alcoholic drink.

It took a few years before Vinnie worked back the courage to play in music again. Healing took time, and eventually, he met up with members of Mudvayne and Nothingface, and formed a supergroup called Hellyeah. Around that time, the brothers' collaboration with David Allen Coe, called Rebel Meets Rebel, saw the release of the only album between the union.

Dime's legacy lives on with the line of Dean guitars made according to his design, including the Razorback models, as well as the line of Krank amps.
No one since has ever assumed the mantle of excellent guitar playing that Dime had given in his years on earth, though his raw-edged technique and
heartwarming personality has continued to influence many players to this day.

ABlairican Pie

01-10-2010, 12:19 AM

Spencer Dryden, drummer for Jefferson Airplane (January 11, 2005)
Replacing previous drummer Skip Spence in the band in 1966, Dryden stayed with the band throughout the remainder of the decade until the ugliness and violence at the infamous Altamont concert in late 1969 prompted him to leave the band. Altamont was the scene of the notorious murder of a concertgoer in full view of the Rolling Stones, with Jefferson Airplane, also on the bill, witnessed other acts of carnage and brutality by the Hell's Angels.
The drummer re-emerged as a member of the Grateful Dead offshoot band, The New Riders of the Purple Sage. Dryden died of colon cancer in near obscurity at the age of 66.

Jim Capaldi, drummer for Traffic (January 28, 2005)
The co-founder of the legendary 60's band with Steve Winwood played with various musicians of that era including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Carlos Santana, and others. He was also a gifted lyricist. Living in Brazil in his later years and championing environmental causes, he died at the age of 60 of stomach cancer.

Bryan Ottoson, guitarist for American Head Charge (April 19, 2005)
The guitarist of the industrial metal band died while on tour with bands including Mudvayne, Life Of Agony, and Bloodsimple. He was found to have accidentally overdosed on prescription medication, passing away at the age of 27. American Head Charge were seen on metal festivals including Ozzfest in 2001, as well as with Slayer and Biohazard.

Paul Hester, drummer for Split Enz and Crowded House (March 26, 2005)
The drummer for two of New Zealand's biggest bands had committed suicide at the age of 46. He was briefly with Split Enz during the mid-80's incarnation
before joining Crowded House with the band's founding brothers Tim and Neil Finn in 1986. Hester left the band in 1994 for the birth of his daughter. Sadly, he hanged himself from the extreme depression over the separation from his wife.

ABlairican Pie

01-10-2010, 12:48 AM

Karl Mueller, bassist for Soul Asylum (June 17, 2005)
The bass player for the top-selling Minneapolis alternative band was featured on the cover to their 1989 album, 'Clam Dip and Other Delights', where he was slathered in the creamy condiment in a hilarous take on Herb Alpert's
'Whip Cream and Other Delights', which featured a sexy girl covered in the tasty topping. Mueller died of throat cancer at the age of 41.

Luther Vandross, R & B vocalist (July 1, 2005)
The Grammy-winning singer took home eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times. He won four Grammy Awards in 2004 including the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for the track "Dance with My Father", co-written with Richard Marx. He made his greatest chart successes during the 80's, though his career was marred by a tragic crash where a young singer with whom he was about to collaborate died from a crash in the car Vandross was driving. Vandross also made successful collaborations with Mariah Carey and others during his long career. Plagued by poor health, he died of a heart attack at the age of 54.

Long John Baldry, British vocalist (July 21, 2005)
The exceptionally tall singer recorded a number of hits over the decades including 1969's "Don't Lay No Boogie Woogie On the King Of Rock & Roll", where he narrated a humorous story about an incident in England where he was arrested for playing music on a street corner and disturbing the peace. The arresting officer explained, rather ignorantly, to an equally clueless judge, of the vocalist's playing "Boo-dgie Woo-dgie" music, for lack of a better description of rock and roll. Baldry also recorded such hits as "Let the Heartaches Begin" as well as others. He even lent his voice to various animated characters, including that of Dr. Robotnik in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. Later becoming a citizen of Canada, he died in Vancouver of a chest infection at the age of 64.

ABlairican Pie

01-10-2010, 01:10 AM

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, blues artist (September 10, 2005)
With a career beginning in the 40's, Brown became an accomplished player by incorporating other American traditional styles into his version of blues. He was nicknamed "Gatemouth" at a young age due to his incessant love for talking. He also brought his music on tours to other countries where it was hard to acquire American music. He died of lung cancer and other diseases at the age of 81. His New Orleans home was damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Chris Whitley, blues artist (November 20, 2005)
Critically acclaimed but only receiving modest commercial success, Whitley was seen performing with an old National acoustic guitar, making an impact on many alternative players as well as living blues legends. He was an accomplished lyricist as well on such albums as 'Living With the Law' and others. He died at the age of 45 due to lung cancer.

Lou Rawls, R & B vocalist (January 6, 2006)
One of soul's most well-known figures had a career that spanned several decades. In addition to a number of hits, he also performed on television and
started a series of televised benefits to aid black Americans. He even lent his voice to animated cartoons and specials, and also popular for his singing of the National Anthem at sporting events. Rawls died of lung and brain cancer at the age of 72.

ABlairican Pie

01-10-2010, 12:37 PM

Wilson Pickett, R & B vocalist (January 19, 2006)
The man who gave us classics such as "Land Of 1000 Dances", "In the Midnight Hour", "Mustang Sally", and other hits made a name for himself in the mid-60's as part of the house band at the legendary Stax Records studio. He was known for his raw, passionate delivery, and was covered by many other artists in rock and r & b. Unfortunately, he also had a wild streak that caused several brushes with the law. He died of a heart attack at the age of
64.

Buck Owens, country performer (March 25, 2006)
Known for his appearances on 'Hee Haw', Owens was a founding figure of the "Bakersfield Sound", the musical style dominant in the Southern California city. He and his band the Buckaroos had much crossover success during his long career, even covering The Beatles' "Act Naturally". Owens died of a heart attack in his sleep at the age of 76 just hours after performing his final concert.

June Pointer, member of the Pointer Sisters (April 11, 2006)
The founder of the 70's and 80's hitmakers the Pointer Sisters sang on such classics as "Jump (For My Love)", "Automatic", "He's So Shy", "Neutron Dance", and a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Fire". She also caused a bit of controversy by appearing in a Playboy pictorial, but had deeper issues with drugs. She was arrested for felony cocaine possession and was ordered to attend rehabilitation. She died of various cancers at the age of 52.

ABlairican Pie

01-10-2010, 06:26 PM

Billy Preston, R & B/funk singer and musician (June 6, 2006)
Billy Preston collaborated with many well-known musicians along with carrying on a very successful recording career. One of his notable accomplishments was playing a Fender Rhodes piano on The Beatles' "Get Back", a feat which made some, including John Lennon, refer to him as "The Fifth Beatle". He even performed on a few of the Abbey Road sessions. His association with the Beatles continued after the Beatles' breakup when he appeared with George Harrison for the Concert For Bangladesh benefit in 1971. He even played with the Rolling Stones in the 70's while his own solo career took off. He played piano on Johnny Cash's cover of Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" as well as with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. His most popular hits were "Nothing From Nothing" as well as "With You I'm Born Again", a duet with Syreeta Wright. Preston was in poor health in his later years, dying of kidney disease at the age of 59.

Arthur Lee, frontman for 60's band Love (August 3, 2006)
The African-America lead singer and composer for Love, whose 1967 album
'Forever Changes' was one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the Psychedelic era, was multi-talented and wrote many of the band's hits including "Alone Again Or", and others. In his later years, he was imprisoned for weapons charges, though vowed to make a 35th anniversary tribute album for 'Forever Changes'. He died of leukemia at the age of 61.

Jon Nödtveidt, lead guitarist and vocalist for Dissection (August 13, 2006)
The frontman for the Swedish black/death metal band was more notorious
for his criminal activity, as he had assisted in the murder of an Algerian homosexual man in 1997, which resulted in his imprisonment for several years. He was also involved an occultic mystical group known as the Misanthropic Luciferian Order. His beliefs and practices prompted Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine from to refuse to appear on the same stage on one night of a European metal festival, as Mustaine had embraced born-again Christianity and did not want to be associated with a Satanic black metal artist. This resulted in a war of words between both parties. Nödtveidt was found dead at his home, a victim of suicide, amidst a circle of lit candles. It was speculated that his suicide was the result of a Satanic pact to end his life at a certain time.

ABlairican Pie

01-10-2010, 10:29 PM

Glenn Rambo, frontman for Soilent Green (August 30, 2005)
The former lead singer of Southern hardcore thrash metal band Soilent Green
tragically died with his mother during Hurricane Katrina as their home was flooded and both drowned. They stayed since they could not leave their animals and pets behind, as well as the fact that they had no car and had a broken leg. Rambo was a lover of animals, and acquired a vast knowledge of arcane subjects and the like. In spite of his "macabre" appearance, he was known to be kind and very intelligent. He was seen walking around New Orleans often with several ferrets in his pockets. He was only 34 at the time of his death.

Mieszko Talarczyk, singer/guitarist for Nasum (December 26, 2004)
The frontman for politically oriented Swedish death metal band was one of the fatal casualties of the disastrous tsunami that swept through the Indian Ocean on the day after Christmas in 2004. The Polish-born vocalist had just celebrated his 30th birthday just three days before and was vacationing in Thailand when the tsunami hit. His body would not be found until February the next year. Talarczyk had founded Nasum and Genocide Superstars; after his death, both bands broke up.

Jesse Pintado, metal guitarist (August 27, 2006)
The Mexican-born guitarist played for several notable death metal/grindcore bands including Napalm Death, Carcass, and Brujeria. He also formed his own band called Terrorizer which featured members of other popular extreme metal bands. He died at the age of 37 from a diabetes-induced coma.

ABlairican Pie

01-10-2010, 11:11 PM

Bruce Gary, drummer for The Knack (August 22, 2006)
The drummer for New Wave band The Knack in the late 70's and early 80's
also had developed a wide resume of playing with various performers such as bluesman Albert Collins, Cream bassist Jack Bruce, former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor and others. At a young age, he was known to have suffered from hyperactive disorder and perscribed Ritalin. His parents were extremely abusive and threatened to take him out of school in an effort to control him. Fortunately, he acquired a drumkit and taught himself to play. He met up with vocalist Doug Fieger, who formed The Knack, and began to write about a love interest, a girl named Sharona, and from there, a hit single swept America in 1979. After The Knack broke up in the early 80's, Gary was in demand to play with other acts. He gained some controversy when he was asked to play drums on a posthumous Jimi Hendrix album in the late 90's; many thought that a former drummer for The Knack was an insult to Jimi's memory, though they were unaware of his excellent drumming abilities. He died of of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 55.

Lou "Boulder" Richards, guitarist for Hatebreed (September 13, 2006)
The former guitarist for hardcore metal band Hatebreed suffered from drug addiction in his later years, in spite of the band's unrelenting message of self-empowerment. He left the band in 2002 and came briefly off of drugs. Unfortunately, he committed suicide at the age of 35.

Boz Burrell, bassist for Bad Company (September 21, 2006)
The Bad Company bass player/vocalist first gained attention with prog legends King Crimson in the late 60's. In 1973, he joined Bad Company and remained with the band into the 90's, achieving wide success. He died in Spain of a heart attack at the age of 60.

ABlairican Pie

01-11-2010, 10:46 AM

Freddy Fender, country singer (October 14, 2006)
Country legend famous for the hit "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" and
"Before the Next Teardrop Falls" in the mid-70's. Imprisoned for marijuana possession, he was ordered by the judge to not play music as part of his release, but Fender explained that he in fact was not permitted to play at venues which served alcohol. Born Baldemar Garza Huerta, he died at the age of 69 from cancer, though he wished to become the first Mexican-American inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, even if posthumously.

Sandy West, drummer for The Runaways (October 21, 2006)
The former drummer for The Runaways, the all-girl rock group to gain international attention for having
a completely female lineup, also gained attention to prove that even girls could drum. This was an anomaly in the 70's when sexist attitudes dominated: "Women were only good for backup singers, etc., but this is the domain of men. No girls allowed." West met up with Joan Jett and the two formed what would become The Runaways. The band lasted four years before splitting up, and though former members Joan Jett and Lita Ford would go on to major success, West, along with the remaining members drifted into obscurity. West began to work outside of the music industry, even participating in some criminal activity to earn money and meet. She never completely got over the end of The Runaways, and had always wished that the band would reunite. She eventually died of a brain tumor at the age of 47. Joan Jett praised her as being the best female drummer in the world, and that "we changed the world" in gaining fame as an all-girl rock band. A Runaways biopic is set to be released this year.

Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records (December 13, 2006)
Though not a music performer, the Turkish-born record magnate founded a label which exposed many who did. Born in 1923, Ertegun lived a life of priveledge as his father served as the first ambassador of the new Republic of Turkey to the United States (Turkey was previously the Ottoman Empire before
statesman Kemal Attaturk modernized it and opened it to the West). At an early age, he became enamored of American blues and jazz artists, even getting the chance to meet many of them, including Duke Ellington and others. While attending college in America in the 40's, he started to work in the record industry to pay for schooling. In New York, he founded Atlantic Records as a jazz label, which struggled briefly before releasing major r & b hits. In the late 60's, however, he heard a new group, Led Zeppelin, and was so impressed with them that he immediately signed them, and decided to take other artists under the label's wing, including Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, and later, the Rolling Stones. The Atlantic label became one of the biggest in the industry. He received many awards for his accomplishments. Unfortunately, before attending a Rolling Stones concert, he slipped and fell, hitting his head and going into a coma. He later died shortly after that at the age of 83.

ABlairican Pie

01-12-2010, 12:38 AM

Brent Liles, bassist for Social Distortion (January 18, 2007)
The former bass player for the legendary punk band appeared on the band's breakthrough album, 1983's 'Mommy's Little Monster' before leaving the band a year later. He formed Agent Orange with fellow SD drummer Derek O'Brien in the late 80's and performed into the 90's. In the punk documentary
'Another State of Mind', he is seen giving a glass of orange juice to a wild fan. He died after being hit by a truck while cycling. He was only 42, and the third member of the band to die in the past several years.

Denny Doherty, founder of The Mamas & the Papas (January 19, 2007)
The singer who formed the popular 60's vocal group began his career in Canada. He joined several bands before hooking up with a group called The Magic Cyrcle. As the band was signed to a major label, they changed their name to The Mamas & the Papas, and recorded such hits as "Monday, Monday", "California Dreamin'", and others. As the band enjoyed their newfound success, Doherty pursued an affair with co-singer Michelle Phillips,
which eventually led to her firing from the band. The band continued with her briefly returning before breaking up in 1968. He died from a second abdominal aneurysm following treatment for a previous one. He was 66.

Billy Thorpe, Australian vocalist and musician (February 28, 2007)
The man who gave us the late 70's hit "Children Of the Sun" had a string of hits in the 60's and 70's with his band Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs. He was known to have a reputation as a blues-rocker at that time. In 1979, as a solo artist, he composed a space opera, 'Children Of the Sun', and went on to compose music scores for various TV shows. He won many awards for his contribution to Australian music. He died of a heart attack at the age of 60, though was posthumously appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.

ABlairican Pie

01-12-2010, 01:23 AM

Brad Delp, vocalist for Boston (March 9, 2007)
The lead singer for the best-selling American band of the late 70's was known for having an exceptional vocal range. The band's first album became the one of the biggest debut albums of all time, producing a number of hits including "More Than a Feeling", "Gonna Hitch a Ride", "Foreplay/Long Time",
"Peace Of Mind", and "Smokin'". The band's followup album, 1978's 'Don't Look Back', failed to match the first one's success, and it would take about another eight years before the band would release a third album. The band faced lawsuits and legal troubles during that time of inactivity, though Delp and co-guitarist Tom Scholz explained that they were extreme perfectionists, which kept them from releasing more albums in a timely manner. Suffering from severe depression, he committed suicide by locking himself in his bathroom and suffocating himself with carbon monoxide from charcoal grills. He left a note reading "Je suis une âme solitaire (I am a lonely soul)." He was found by his fiance.

Mark St. John, KISS guitarist (April 5, 2007)
Mark St. John was the second guitar player of the 80's "makeup-less" era of KISS, entering the band's lineup after the departure of Vinnie Vincent, who had replaced original guitarist Ace Frehley. St. John appeared on only one KISS album, 1984's 'Animalize' album, but left the band due to arthritis which hampered his ability to play. He was replaced by Bruce Kulick. St. John performed in projects with other musicians after his time with KISS. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 51, the second member of KISS to pass away, the first being drummer Eric Carr from cancer in 1991.

Don Ho, Hawaiian pop musician (April 14, 2007)
The singer of "Tiny Bubbles" and other pop standards found success in his career in the 60's, and made appearances on several TV shows, even acquiring his own show. In live performances, he would joke with veterans of World War II and Korea. He died of heart failure at the age of 76.

ABlairican Pie

01-12-2010, 02:07 AM

Bobby "Boris" Pickett, 60's singer (April 25, 2007)
The singer and songwriter of the 1962 novelty hit "Monster Mash" was capitalizing on the dance crazes of his day. Though it was rejected by various record companies, it was eventually picked up by producer Gary Paxton, and even featured Leon Russell on piano. Though the song became a
hit in America, it was bannned in Britain due to being "too morbid". The song
was re-released in 1970 and 1973. He also released a Christmas version of the Halloween hit, "Monster's Holiday". "Monster Mash" was covered by many artists, from the Beach Boys to the Misfits, and Rush used a sample of the song in the instrumental "Limbo" in 1996. A band called The Toyes recorded
a drug-oriented parody version called "Monster Hash". Pickett died from leukemia at the age of 69.

Lee Hazlewood, 60's singer-songwriter (August 4, 2007)
Lee Hazlewood's biggest contribution to music was the 1966 hit he wrote for Nancy Sinatra, "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'", which was even covered by Megadeth on their debut album in 1985, with which he was not happy due to its coarse language. He also made a name for himself by re-inventing his image as a "psychedelic cowboy" and worked with Gram Parsons in the late 60's. He was also known for his deep baritone singing voice. He died of cancer at the age of 78.

Kelly Johnson, guitarist with Girlschool (July 15, 2007)
Kelly Johnson was a guitar player with Girlschool, one of the most promising bands of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) bands of the late 70's and early 80's. Like The Runaways, the all-female Girlschool challenged the notion of rock and metal as being a "males-only" business. The band was brought on tour with Motorhead and the exposure helped them gain slots with bands such as Rush, Rainbow, the Scorpions, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and Blue Oyster Cult. In the early 80's, Johnson left the band, though she returned in 1993 and stayed for six more years. She died of spinal cancer at the age of 49.

ABlairican Pie

01-12-2010, 10:44 AM

Luciano Pavarotti, Italian tenor (September 6, 2007)
One of the greatest voices in operatic music, Luciano Pavarotti crossed over into mainstream music with "The Three Tenors", including singers Plácido Domingo and José Carreras in the early 90's. He had a magnificent vocal range and became known as "King of the high C's" early on in his career in the 70's. He died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 71.

Paul Raven, metal and punk bassist (October 20, 2007)
Paul Raven gained attention as the bass player for punk/metal band Killing Joke, and went on to play in such cutting edge acts as Prong and Ministry. He appeared the latter industrial metal band's final two albums, 'Rio Grande Blood' and 'The Last Sucker'. He died in his sleep from a heart attack in Switzerland at the age of 46.

Porter Wagoner, country singer (October 28. 2007)
The man known as Mr. Grand Old Opry had a long, successful career of country hits beginning in the 50's. He even had his own television show, 'The Porter Wagoner Show', which ran for 20 years, beginning in the early 60's. He wrote "I Will Always Love You", which became a hit for Dolly Parton, and subsequently for Whitney Houston. Known for his stylish "Nudie" and Manuel suits and high blonde pompadour hairdo, he made a striking image over the years. He was the first to introduce a young Dolly Parton to a wide audience.
He died of lung cancer at the age of 80.

ABlairican Pie

01-13-2010, 10:47 AM

Robert Goulet, Grammy-winning singer (October 30, 2007)
The suave entertainer first won massive attention in the early 60's with his appearance in the stage production of 'Camelot'. Born in Massachussetts but raised in Canada, he was forced to entertain relatives and others by donning blackface cork minstrel makeup and performing for them. This was deeply traumatic for the young Goulet, and this plagued him with performance anxiety throughout his career. Regardless, he became a huge star of stage and screen, effecting the familiar debonair French accent in his monologues. He even managed to mangle the lyrics to 'The Star Spangled Banner' at a boxing match at one time, as he was had never performed it before. Regardless, he was an important figure who received much acclaim for his performances. He died while awaiting a lung transplant at the age of 23.

Witold "Vitek" Kiełtyka, drummer for metal band Decapitated (November 2, 2007)
The Polish drummer for the technical death metal band was noted for his excellent drumming abilities. The band was considered one of the finest groups in Europe to play extreme metal music. Tragically, Vitek died in a car collision with a truck near the border of Russia and Belarus. He was only 23.
His death was widely mourned, and the band went on hiatus to search for a new drummer (though he was not decapitated, as the band's name suggests).

Kevin DuBrow, vocalist for Quiet Riot (November 19, 2007)
The flamboyant lead singer of Quiet Riot, whose 'Metal Health' album became the first official heavy metal record to hit #1 in 1983, played with future Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Randy Rhoads in an early incarnation of the group in the late 70's. In spite of Rhoads' talent, the band languished in obscurity,
releasing two albums only available in Japan. After Rhoads' death in a plane crash, DuBrow used his association with his late guitarist friend to secure label interest. In the spring of 1983, the Heavy Metal Sunday segment of the Us Festival in southern California brought attention to thousands in attendance along with other acts including Motley Crue, Judas Priest, and Van Halen. Their 'Metal Health' album, which was released at that time, included such hits as the Slade cover "Cum On Feel the Noize", "Slick Black Cadillac", and the anthemic title track. The wide success of the album also flung open the floodgates to the Hollywood Sunset Strip "hair-metal" scene, which dominated the remainder of the 80's. The band's next album featured another hit cover by Slade, "Mama Weer All Crazy Now". DuBrow, a manic performer with a strong voice and stage presence, resented the onslaught of rival L.A. metal contenders, and publicly said so in interviews. This was the beginning of the end of the singer known as "The Mouth". His professional jealousy depleted the band's concert audience and record sales, and the public turned on the once-huge band. The band decided to dump DuBrow and replace him with a new singer, but the damage was done. Quiet Riot once again drifted into obscurity, only to resurface with DuBrow throughout the 90's and 2000's, though not at the massive level of success as before. The band was happy to play in clubs and flirt with promises of a full comeback. Fans were excited to see them live again, forgiving the faux pas of the past. Sadly, DuBrow was found dead at home from a cocaine overdose at the age of 52. It was determined that he had died several days before being found.

ABlairican Pie

01-14-2010, 02:23 AM

Patrick Mason, bassist for Arsonists Get All the Girls (November 30, 2007)
Patrick Mason was the bass player for California deathcore group Arsonists Get All the Girls, which formed in 2005 as a joke band. Their fame quickly grew as they recorded several albums during their brief career. The band toured through Europe with such metal acts as Bleeding Through and Darkest Hour. Unfortunately, Mason died one day after his 21st birthday from alcohol poisoning. The band decided to continue on in his honor.

Ike Turner, guitarist and rock & roll pioneer (December 12, 2007)
Ike Turner's legendary acts of domestic violence with his one-time wife Tina Turner have eclipsed his contributions to the development of rock & roll in the 50's. Heavily influenced by blues singers of his day, he recorded what is considered by many to be the first official rock & roll song, "Rocket 88", in 1951. Recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis, he also recorded what is possibly the first example of guitar distortion, when one of the amps he was carrying dropped, and upon playing, created a unique fuzzy dissonance when paper and tape was applied to the speaker. He performed as a sideman for bands when he discovered a young woman, Anna Mae Bullock, whose singing style and presence was so impressive that he decided to guide her to success. The two formed a duo named Ike and Tina Turner, and together they released a string of hits throughout the 60's, including their famous cover of
Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary", where Ike's low voice could be heard beneath Tina's custom shriek. At the peak of their success, Ike unleashed his frustrations and hostility on his wife, and tried to control her.
Their lives together were marked by brutality and his brushes with the law. She eventually escaped his grasp after a particularly horrific altercation, and never went back to him, instead embarking on a prosperous career as a solo artist. Ike served time in prison for domestic violence, drugs, and weapons charges, eventually being released in 1993. He worked the rest of his life to restore his name and reputation with little success, insisting that he was never as violent as he was depicted by the media and the Tina Turner 1985 biopic 'What's Love Got To Do With It?". Like Kevin DuBrow and John Entwistle before him, Ike Turner died of a cocaine overdose which was compounded by hypertensive cardiovascular disease and pulmonary emphysema. He was 76, not a particularly safe age for one to be indulging in drugs in his condition. Regardless of the sordid details of his personal life, Turner was a fine bluesman on guitar, which often remains overlooked.

ABlairican Pie

01-14-2010, 10:46 AM

Casey Calvert, guitarist for Hawthorne Heights (November 24, 2007)
The guitarist for the emo/screamo band who released the hit "Ohio Is For Lovers" in 2004 was found dead of an accidental drug overdose. Coroners determined that it was the extremely rare death caused by the fatal interaction of anti-depression medications. The band chose not to replace him and stated that he would always be listed on the band's album credits, though posthumously.

Dan Fogelberg, singer-songwriter (December 16, 2007)
The widely acclaimed country-pop rock vocalist scored a series of hits in the 70's with such tracks as "Leader Of the Band", "Longer", and "Same Old Lang Syne". A talented multi-instrumentalist, he also used his popularity to address social concerns such as nuclear proliferation. His musical forays included not only pop and country stylings, but also folk, blues, and even bluegrass. He died of prostate cancer at the age of 56.

Larry Norman, contemporary Christian music pioneer (February 24, 2008)
Larry Norman, while not the first contemporary Christian musician, was the one who helped popularize the genre in the late 60's/early 70's, when it was known as a fledgling field known simply as "Jesus music". As a teen, he fell in love with 60's artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan, and wished to combine Christian themes of salvation and praise to God with the music of his time. It was unthinkable then, but noting from history Christian hymnwriters who used popular beer
-hall songs for inspiration, he successfully merged the two elements in a unique, compelling fashion.
He was a member of the 60's band People!, who had one hit called "I Love You", but when the record label refused to release the album under the tongue-in-cheek title, "We Need a Lot More Of Jesus, and a Lot Less Rock and Roll", he left the band, frustrated with the label's refusal to address controversy. He released what is considered one of the first official Christian rock albums, 'Upon This
Rock', in 1969, which featured the semi-hit, "Sweet, Sweet Song of Salvation". His efforts energized
the growing Jesus movement, which began from former hippies burnt out on their lifestyles of drugs,
rebellion, free sex, and Eastern philosophies who turned on to the radical message of Christ, "the ultimate hippie", who offered salvation and spiritual rebirth. Norman's albums captured the hip new language of the movement, and did so during a time when Christ became a pop culture figure in the early 70's. For Norman, his faith in Christ was real and exciting, and not, as he emphasized, simply "religion" but a relationship with God. His 1972 album, 'Only Visiting This Planet', featured an anthemic ballad for the Jesus movement, "I Wish We'd All Been Ready", lamenting those who missed
the Rapture in the Apocalyptic End Times, where true believers had been airlifted to heaven prior to the time of coming tribulations. Another song, "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music", sung to a 50's style rhythm, boldly proclaimed his love for God as well as enjoying songs with a rocking beat, that there was no contradiction for him. Norman also sang songs of social commentary, such as "I Am the 6 O'Clock News", depicting coverage of the Vietnam War from the point of view of a t.v.
journalist, with no attendant "Christian" evangelism lyrics, as well as other songs criticizing the declining state of American values and culture. He also embraced controversy by addressing forbidden topics as venereal disease in songs such as "Why Don't You Look Into Jesus".
Most conservative Christians at the time felt contempt for him, with his long hair and "unholy" use of
Christian lyrics and rock and roll. Regardless, his groundbreaking efforts helped elevate"Jesus music" from a ragtag group of itinerant musicians touring in hippie vans and playing often for free in various churches to a fully sophisticated industry with its own pop stars, lingo, and, unfortunately, an unspoken rule of speaking only about Jesus and little else on radio and records in an effort to convert others to the new hip form of evangelical Christianity that allegedly claimed to be free from "rules and religion". An absense of such hip Christian buzzwords indicated a sort of "reluctance" to speak about Jesus, and meant that a Christian performer was not sincere and reminescent of the secular world. But Norman and others of his stripe felt that since God created the world, it was not wrong to sing about it and not have to justify it with explicitly Christian terms. Since one was Christian, the songs one sang were Christian, because they came from a transformed heart by Jesus, and one had the freedom God gave to express the truth, or what one believed was true. Art was very important to the
Christian.
Regardless, Norman did run afoul of other controversies with his own fellow Christian music peers.
His longtime friend, Christian troubador Randy Stonehill, broke off his partnership with him after Norman
began dating his ex-wife. Stonehill clearly felt that Norman's actions were a complete betrayal. Another Christian rock band, Daniel Amos (named after the Old Testament prophets), were on his Solid Rock label and went from being a comical country-rock act to a more Beatle-esque hard rock direction, recording their 'Horrendous Disc' album in 1978--but for whatever reason, under Norman's leadership (or lack thereof), did not see the light of day until 1981. They dropped their partnership with him and continued on with a different label.
Norman ventured into various forms of music including rock, folk, pop, and blues. His albums were less recognized in the 80's and 90's, but his impact was felt by secular musicians such as Frank Black of the Pixies, who quoted Norman's stage quips onstage. U2 were even fans of Norman's music while growing up in their native Ireland in the late 70's and were influenced by his Christian message. While convalescing in poor health in his later years, Norman died at the age of 60, anticipating his homecoming to be with the Lord.

ABlairican Pie

01-16-2010, 02:47 AM

Buddy Miles, drummer for Band of Gypsys featuring Jimi Hendrix (February 26, 2008)
A child prodigy who played in his father's jazz band, George "Buddy" Miles met Jimi Hendrix early on in the guitarist's career and became part of the Band of Gypsys trio which formed after the breakup of The Experience in the late 60's. Band of Gypsys was formed as a completely black lineup with Billy Cox on bass. The band released one groundbreaking album and began a short-lived tour where the guitarist experienced a meltdown onstage due to drugs and found himself unable to play. Miles believed that this incident was due to his former manager Michael Jeffrey trying to sabotage Hendrix's career when he formed his new band by slipping drugs to the guitarist without his knowledge or consent. Miles was certain that Hendrix died because of Jeffrey's influence. Around that time, Miles' own hit "Them Changes" was climbing the charts. Though Band of Gypsys broke up, Miles continued to play with other noted musicians, including Carlos Santana. In 1986, Miles even lent his voice to the enormously popular California Raisins ad campaign as one of the Claymation fruit figures. Miles died at the age of 60's of congestive heart failure. Miles acquired the name "Buddy" from his aunt in honor of legendary jazz drummer Buddy Rich.

Jeff Healey, blues-rock guitarist (March 2, 2008)
Jeff Healey earned the distinction of being the most well-known, if not the only blind rock guitarist in the history of popular music. He lost his sight at the age of eight months. Making his mark in the late 80's, he would be seen sitting while playing a Fender Squier Stratocaster on top of his lap, effortlessly playing in a remarkable fluid fashion. His debut album, 1988's 'See the Light' featured the popular ballad "Angel Eyes" as well as the title track. Healey also played in the movie 'Road House' with actor Patrick Swayze. In 1990, he released the album 'Hell To Pay' which featured the hits "I Think I Love You Too Much" and a cover of The Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", with George Harrison accompanying him. His later albums saw him moving away from rock and into jazz. He also played with many blues and rock artists as well. Healey died of cancer at the age of only 41.

Ola Brunkert, ABBA drummer (March 16, 2008)
The session drummer for the internationally best-selling Swedish act began his musical career as a highly sought-after session percussionist. Though not an official member of the band, he did appear on every album, and was even promised that he would even be heard singing on one album. Brunkert did play on the band's last world tours in the late 70's and early 80's. He moved to the Spanish island of Majorca, and one year after the death of his wife, he suffered a fall in his garden and, struggling to make it inside, broke the glass on his door and cut himself deeply in the neck. He bled to death, though initially, his passing was regarded with suspicion until it was determined that it was an accident. He was 61 years old.

ABlairican Pie

01-17-2010, 02:03 AM

Neil Aspinall, Beatles business executive (March 24, 2008)
Neil Aspinall, a childhood friend of Paul McCartney and George Harrison, went on from being the band's road manager and personal assistant to becoming the head of their record company, Apple Corps. In the early days of the band just prior to their stardom in their native Britain, Aspinall nearly left the band after the firing of original drummer Pete Best, but, though Neil was involved in a romantic relationship with Best's mother, the drummer urged him to remain with the band. Aspinall did end the affair, however. He remained with the band throughout their rise to success, and after the death of their original manager Brian Epstein, took a more commanding role of the band's business affairs, overlooking merchandising, film, promotions, and the like. When Allen Klein was brought in as the new band manager, Aspinall was let go, but reinstated by the band. A power struggle ensued between Klein and Aspinall, resulting in a series of lawsuits between the two for years. In 1978, Apple Corps was involved in a lawsuit by the Apple Computer company over copyright infringement, though settled for a time, when the computer company agreed not to go into the music business. This pact was broken when Apple, Inc. decided to go into iTunes in 2003, which prompted a suit by Apple Corps. Aspinall died at the age of 66 from lung cancer.

Dottie Rambo, country-gospel singer (May 11, 2008)
The popular gospel singer, born Joyce Reba Luttrell, became a Christian at the age of twelve, to the consternation of her father who warned her not to get into Christian music, as she had wished. Desperate to pursue her dream, she left home and toured with a local gospel group around the country. In the '50's she had met and married a man named Buck Rambo, with whom she had a daughter named Reba. The family formed a gospel group named The Rambos. She even sang for the governor of Louisiana, Jimmie West, who was also a gospel performer and co-wrote songs with her. Soon she became a big name in the gospel circuit, playing with many big names in the music industry in the South, as well as singing for such popular persons in Christian ministry and evangelism as Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Paul and Jan Crouch, and others. In her later years, her health began to decline due to a ruptured disk which left her leg partially paralyzed.
Though she regained her mobility, her activities were limited at this point. She died in a bus collision outside of Mount Vernon, Missouri, en route to a Mother's Day performance in Texas. She was 74 years old. She had won numerous awards for her contributions to Gospel music.

John Rutsey, original drummer for Rush (May 11, 2008)
Though a founding member of Canada's prime rock trio, Rutsey only appeared on the debut album of the band. In 1968, Rutsey formed the band with guitarist Alex Lifeson and bassist Jeff Jones, who left and was replaced by Geddy Lee. As Lifeson and Lee did not like writing lyrics, the task was up to Rutsey to write them. As the band entered the studio to record their first album, Rutsey came up empty-handed, explaining that he was frustrated with his writing efforts and tore them up in disgust. Fortunately, lyrics came out and the band released a fine debut with songs such as "Finding My Way", "In the Mood", "What You're Doing", and the classic anthem "Working Man". Rutsey was a powerful drummer, but soon his drum stool was vacated on the eve of the band's first American tour. He was not only dissatisfied with the band's intended direction to go in a more progressive direction than just pub-rock, but his battles with diabetes were conflicting with his ability to perform on a long-term basis. He left the band in 1974, to be replaced by the more literary-minded drum virtuoso Neil Peart, who took the band to colossal success around the world. Rutsey had not been seen much for years. In 1990, Lifeson remarked, "John's still around. I see John quite often. He gave up playing shortly after he left the band and went into bodybuilding. He competed on an amateur level for a while, doing that for a few years, and has sort of been in and out of that, but he still works out, and I work out with him a few times a week at a local gym - at a Gold's, here in Toronto." After that, Lifeson lost contact with Rutsey. The drummer died of a heart attack in his sleep due to complications from diabetes only a few days shy of his 55th birthday. After Rutsey's death, former bandmates Lee and Lifeson released this statement: "Those years spent in our teens dreaming of one day doing what we continue to do decades later are special. Although our paths diverged many years ago, we smile today, thinking back on those exciting times and remembering John's wonderful sense of humour and impeccable timing."

ABlairican Pie

01-17-2010, 12:36 PM

Bo Diddley, bluesman and rock & roll pioneer (June 2, 2008)
Born Ellas Otha Bates, Bo Diddley was known as "The Originator" due to his successful transitioning of blues to rock and roll in the 50's with his special "Bo Diddley beat" punctuating his songs. He became known as Bo Diddley after the successul self-titled hit "Bo Diddley" in 1954. His other 1956 signature hit, "Who Do You Love", was later covered by George Thorogood. In 1955, Diddley appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show where he angered the host by playing his self-titled song rather than Tennessee Ernie Ford hit "Sixteen Tons", as the show requested. Accusing Diddley of double-crossing him, Sullivan warned him that he wouldn't last six months. Diddley was never allowed back on the show. However, he remained a hero to many acts over the years including The Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead, and even opened for The Clash on their 1979 tour. He never really got the rewards of his career as his peers did, though he did become a household name for himself with the Nike commercial with Bo Jackson where he asserts to the football player, "Bo--you don't know diddley." In his later years he continued to perform as he had made little money from his recordings, and was appalled by internet piracy stealing his much deserved-royalties. He was also known for his unique box-shaped guitar, his trademark instrument. In 2007, he suffered a stroke, and died a year later of a heart attack at the age of a heart attack.

Mel Galley, guitarist for Whitesnake and Trapeze (July 1, 2008)
One of the guitarist for the David Coverdale-fronted band also performed in the 70's group Trapeze, a band though, while never achieving commercial heights, had members who went on to fame in other big acts. Galley played on two albums of the early 80's version of Whitesnake ('Saints & Sinners' and
'Slide It In') before an injury at a fairground in Germany impaired his ability to play guitar. The nerve damage caused as result of incompetent surgery forced him out of the band. Fortunately, he was fitted with a device known as "The Claw" which enabled him to play guitar again. He played in other bands as well, though in 2008, he learned that he was terminally suffering from from esophagal cancer. He made his last days a party in his hospital room, inviting his friends and former bandmates over for a fun-filled farewell. He was 60 years old when he passed away.

ABlairican Pie

01-17-2010, 07:00 PM

Isaac Hayes, r & b singer (August 10, 2008)
The singer was a major figure at the legendary Stax Records lebel in the mid-60's, writing the lyrics to the Sam and Dave hit "Soul Man", before he became a huge name in the early 70's with the theme song to the blaxploitation movie 'Shaft' in 1971. After Stax Records suffered crippling setbacks in the late 60's with the death of Otis Redding and having its catalog being bought up by Atlantic, Hayes became the big name to help revive the label. He recorded 1969's 'Hot Buttered Soul' and became a success with with his visual and musical appeal. Though he remained wealthy and popular during the early 70's, by the middle of the decade, he became bankrupt as Stax went out of business. His music career after that spawned few hits, though he appeared on such t.v. shows as 'The Rockford Files' and films before attempting a comeback in 1995. In 1997, he became known as the Chef on the popular cartoon 'South Park', and his popularity peaked once more. However, he left the show as he was offended by the cartoon's denigrating of the religion of Scientology, which he practiced and vigorously promoted. He understood that the show was intentionally controversial and supported it, but took umbrage at their swipes at the Scientology religion. Hayes died of a stroke a few days short of his 66th birthday.

Rick Wright, Pink Floyd keyboardist (September 15, 2008)
One of the most valuable members for the world's biggest prog band who was influential in creating their sound was born Richard William Wright in Middlesex, England. He was considered more of a secondary member of Pink Floyd, adding his signature keyboard touch and a few vocals on some of their early albums. Some of his biggest compositions with the band were "Great Gig In the Sky" and "Us and Them" on 'Dark Side Of the Moon'. By the end of the 70's, his relationship with the band's frontman and bassist Roger Waters had dissipated to the point to where he was threatened with the 'The Wall' being abandoned if he did not leave the band. However, he did remain with the band for the recording--though as a salaried musician who was no longer an actual member. In 1983, Wright was exluded from appearing on their swan song album, 'The Final Cut'. After the band broke up, Wright resumed the lineup as a session musician on the 1987 release of their "comeback" album
'Momentary Lapse Of Reason', though legally, he was not an official member. It was felt by many, especially Waters, that this was a "Pink Fraud" version of the band, glutted by session musicians and only two original members, guitarist David Gilmour and drummer Nick Mason, as Waters had long taken his leave of the band and opposed any sort of reunion. Wright also appeared on the band's last studio album, 'The Division Bell' in 1994. The entire band regrouped for the Live 8 concert in London in 2005. Wright died of cancer at the age of 65.

ABlairican Pie

01-18-2010, 05:02 AM

Gidget Gein, bassist for Marilyn Manson (October 8, 2008)
Born Bradley Stewart, the bass player for shock-rocker Marilyn Manson took his name, as did other members of the band, from both pop culture beauties and serial killers; in this case, the names from 60's movie and t.v. teen character played by Sally Field as well as the infamous serial child murderer Ed
Gein. Like the former Brian Warner, Gidget Gein adopted a certain macabre, decadent persona as a member of Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids in the late 80's and early 90's. By mid-decade, the name was shortened to Marilyn Manson, and Gein's personality was defined by copious use of drugs, explicit bisexual acts, and general decadence. Soon the drugs took their toll, which resulted in Gein landing in a hospital after overdosing on heroin. Through Federal Express, he found that he was officially fired from Marilyn Manson's band, and was replaced by Twiggy Ramirez, who even borrowed some of Gein's effects. He formed a series of bands before becoming an assistant to a medical examiner and being involved in the arts scene. After several years of sobriety, he relapsed and died of a heroin overdose at the age of 39.

Kenny MacLean,bassist for Platinum Blonde (November 24, 2008)
The Scottish-born bass player for the mid-80's Canadian New Wave band, was in a number of other bands before he joined Platinum Blonde in 1985. The band, named after a 1931 movie starring Jean Harlowe, performed in glam-rock attire and released a number of videos. They were dubbed the "Canadian Duran Duran" due to their uncanny resemblance to Britain's Fab Five of New Romantics pop. The band had much success in Canada with hits including "It Doesn't Really Matter", "Situation Critical", "Crying Over You", and others. The band never made a breakthrough in America, and by the end of the 80's, was faltering on the charts in their native Canada. By the early 90's, the band renamed themselves The Blondes, but then decided to split up and pursue solo projects. He did win a Juno Award (the Canadian version of the Grammy) for "Most Promising Male Vocalist" in 1991. MacLean died of heart failure at the age of 52.

Munetaka Higuchi, drummer for Loudness (November 30, 2008)
The drummer for the 80's Japanese metal band, one of the Far East Asian nation's few musical exports known in America and the West, played in several bands when he was younger before forming Loudness in 1981 with guitarist Akira Takasaki. Though they released several albums throughout the 80's, they hit their commercial peak with 1985's "Crazy Nights" from the album 'Thunder In the East'.
While the band became a success worldwide, their fortunes in America remained very limited. They constantly languished in their "up-and-coming" status in the United States and never achieved their
commercial breakthrough, though they attempted another hit with "Let It Go", which disappointed
many fans due to its blatant attempts to be radio-friendly pop-metal. Higuchi left the band in 1992, though the band continued on without him. He returned in 2001 for what was to be a one-time reunion show for Loudness, but the success of the event prompted the band to continue and make albums for the rest of the decade. However, as the band went on a brief hiatus, it was announced that the drummer had developed liver cancer and was not able to join the band on their next tour. He was replaced for the band's tour with Motley Crue, and sadly died at the age of 49. The band left a heartfelt message of his passing to fans, and said the band would still go on to record and tour.

ABlairican Pie

01-19-2010, 02:31 AM

Odetta, African-American folk singer and activist (December 2, 2008)
Known as the "Voice of the Civil Rights Movement", Odetta Holmes was a leading figure in the folk music revival of the 50's and 60's. As a teen she had training in opera singing, and also performed in theater. She moved on to performing folk music in San Francisco, and recorded several best-selling albums. Martin Luther King, Jr. dubbed her "The Queen of American folk music" in the early 60's, though she eventually incorporated an orchestra for a more jazz-oriented sound. She also performed in several movies and stage, and received awards for her activism and her musical contributions. Hoping to perform at Obama's inauguration, she unfortunately passed away from heart disease at the age of 77. She served as an influence on such artists as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, and Bruce Springsteen.

Eartha Kitt, singer and actress (December 25, 2008)
Though known as one of the actresses who played the role of Catwoman on
the 60's version of 'Batman', Kitt gained attention with her 1953 hit "Santa Baby". Though having African-American, Cherokee and Dutch-German ancestry, Kitt had claimed she was a product of rape. Beginning her career in film, she sang a series of hits in the 50's and impressed many with her distinctive voice. She even had a wide audience in Europe where she became
fluent in French and other languages as she sang in cabaret performances. She teamed up with Orson Welles, who called her most exciting woman in the world", for various films. Rumors abounded that she had an affair with him, but she denied this. She replaced Julie Newmar as Catwoman on the t.v. series 'Batman', and became one of the sexiest actresses to play the tempting
villainess. However, her career in America suffered a near-fatal setback when she publicly denounced the war in Vietnam to President Johnson in 1968. Her criticism, 'You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed. No wonder the kids rebel and take pot" caused Lady Bird Johnson to burst into tears and resulted in a public outcry. Scandalized in America, she began to focus her career in Europe and Asia. She released a dance track in 1984, "Where Is My Man", which became a hit in Britain. Her status as a diva made her a success with gays, and her 1989 dance song "Cha-Cha Heels" was recorded with British gay band Bronski Beat. She also appeared in many films, stage productions, and voice-overs later in her career. She died of colon cancer on Christmas at the age of 81.

ABlairican Pie

01-20-2010, 10:44 AM

Ron Asheton, guitarist for The Stooges (January 6, 2009)
The guitarist for the infamous Iggy Pop-fronted band was also the lead singer's co-writer. The band's self-titled debut album in 1969, 'Fun House' in 1971, and 'Raw Power' in 1973, laid the groundwork for punk and cutting edge rock with raw songs such as "I Wanna Be Your Dog", "1969", "No Fun", "T.V. Eye", "Loose", "Search and Destroy", and "Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell". While Iggy Pop remained the focal point of the act with his manic behavior on stage, Asheton provided strong guitar lines with his abrasive style. He played bass on the 'Raw Power' album before the band went their separate ways. Asheton went on to play with other bands for the next several years. The band reunited in 2007 for a new album, 'The Weirdness', and a subsequent tour which provoked interest in fans who had not seen the band in its early incarnation. Sadly, Asheton was found dead of a heart attack after several days of friends and family not hearing from him. He was 60 years old.

Don Arden, music manager (July 21, 2007)
The British manager of top rock acts including Electric Light Orchestra, Small Faces, and Black Sabbath
was also the father of $haron Osbourne, wife of Ozzy Osbourne. Born Harry Levy, he managed many
early rock and roll acts in England in the 60's and made a fortune, though through often criminal cutthroat means. Dubbed "The English Godfather" and "The Al Capone of Pop", his reputation and tactics were eerily reminescent of such characters as rap kingpen Suge Knight in later years. He was known for threatening to rough up John Hawken of the 60's group Nashville Teens by throwing him out the window when the musician complained about money. 50's rocker Gene Vincent also ran afoul of Arden when he threatened the manager with a knife during a bout with alcoholism. He even threatened Bee Gees manager Robert Stigwood with bodily harm if he interfered with the management of one of his prizes, Small Faces. His menacing attitude made him a notorious name in England in those years, as others were similarly threatened. Arden took control of Black Sabbath in the late 70's after a period of financial and professional fiascos from the band's former management. However, when his daughter $haron began to date and manage Ozzy, who was forming a solo career after his firing from Sabbath, Arden became livid. The breakdown in their relationship estranged her from her father for years. Arden also formed his own label, Jet Records, and began to live the high life in America, though soon his fortunes began to sour. Interestingly, in spite of her contempt for her father and his business practices, she began to mimic many of his same techniques, acting heavy-handed and vindictive with many bands and musicians she worked with, almost like a Mafioso in the same way as her father had--
if any musician crossed her or spoke ill of her husband, she could be ruthless. Regardless, she translated her management of Ozzy and other bands into monetary success. For years, she refused to let her father see her children, though in later years, he made a cameo appearance on 'The Osbournes' show and finally got to meet them. Arden died of Alzheimer's at the age of 81.

ABlairican Pie

01-25-2010, 02:56 AM

Billy Powell, Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist (January 28, 2009)
Born in a military family, Powell picked up on playing piano at an early age, then became a roadie for the Southern rock band. When he played "Free Bird"
on keys, lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant was impressed and offered him a slot in the band. For several years in the 70's, Lynyrd Skynyrd became one of America's most favorite acts, though tragically, in 1977, an airplane crash took the lives of several of the band's members, Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and his sister Cassie Gaines who provided backing vocals. Powell, however, escaped death and suffered only a few facial lacerations and the near-loss of his nose. He was the only member to attend the funerals of his bandmates. In the 80's he joined a Christian rock band called Vision, where he gave testimonies over his newly-found faith in Christianity. In 1987, he rejoined a new version of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and remained with them until his passing at the age of 56 from a suspected heart attack. Two years before,
he played piano on the Kid Rock track "All Summer Long" which contains samples of the Lynyyrd Skynyrd hit "Sweet Home Alabama".

Lux Interior, vocalist for The Cramps (February 4, 2009)
Born Erick Lee Purkhiser, the charismatic lead singer for the "shockabilly" punk band The Cramps met his future wife Kristy Wallace while she was hitchhiking in 1972. The two decided to form a band in 1975 in their native Ohio, becoming part of the rising punk scene there. They decided on stage names to reflect junk culture, Lux Interior after a used car commercial, and Poison Ivy came from a vision in a dream she had, and their musical style was called psychobilly, originally claiming it to have been inspired by a Johnny Cash song, (One Piece at a Time), and later saying that they were just using the phrase as "carny terms to drum up business." In concert, the singer performed provocatively, as evidenced by the clip in the 1981 new wave concert documentary 'Urgh! A Music War', where he strutted around bare-chested in glossy leather pants barely coming over his crotch. Lux explained that his "psychobilly" was a throwback to the danger and sexuality of very early rock and roll, before it was co-opted and commercialized by the mainstream. The band released such albums as 'Date With Elvis' and songs such as "Bikini Girls With Machine Guns". Explaining why he continued to perform past middle age, he said, "It's a little bit like asking a junkie how he's been able to keep on dope all these years, It's just so much fun. You pull in to one town and people scream, 'I love you, I love you, I love you.' And you go to a bar and have a great rock 'n' roll show and go to the next town and people scream, 'I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.' It's hard to walk away from all that." In addition to music, he also was an artist, as well as making a vocal appearance on 'SpongeBob SquarePants'. He died at the age of 62 from heart problems.

ABlairican Pie

01-25-2010, 10:19 AM

"England" Dan Seals, member of England Dan and John Ford Coley (March 25, 2009)
As the younger brother of Jim Seals, one half of the 70's pop act Seals and Croft, Danny Wayland "Dan" Seals hit fame in the soft rock-pop duo England Dan and John Ford Coley. The group became most well-known for its 1976 hit
"I'd Really Love To See You Tonight". The pair released a number of top songs between 1976 and 1980 before breaking up. He took on the nickname "England" due to his use of an affected English accent as well as his love for The Beatles. After that, he attempted to become a solo artist under the name England Dan, which was met with commercial disappointment. He left the pop rock scene to become a country artist and released a number of top country singles such as "Meet Me In Montana", a duet with Marie Osmond, as well as many others. He died at the age of 61 due to lymphoma, for which he was undergoing treatment.

Jay Bennett, Wilco guitarist (May 24, 2009)
The guitarist for Americana alternative rock band Wilco joined the band in 1994. He remained for nearly seven years with the group, during which time
he had a turbulent professional relationship with the band's from Jeff Tweedy
over production of their albums and musical direction. Tensions erupted over whether the band should continue on in their independent edge or attempt to become more commercially oriented. The feud was captured on the documentary 'I Am Trying to Break Your Heart: A Film About Wilco'. In 2001, Bennett was fired from the band and began a solo career. In May 2009, he sued Tweedy for breach of contract. Apparently he was trying to gain funds for hip replacement surgery, for which he could not afford in his current financial state. Unfortunately, Bennett died unexpectedly in his sleep from an overdose of perscription drugs used for pain at the age of 45. Tweedy offered his condolences to fans in a publicly released statement which noted him as a gifted performer and musician in the band.

ABlairican Pie

01-26-2010, 10:42 AM

Sky Saxon, singer for The Seeds (July 25, 2009)
The lead vocalist for the 60's psychedelic garage rock band was born on a date which remains in dispute, either in 1937, 1945, or 1946, though Saxon believed age was unimportant. Regardless, he was born Richard Elvern Marsh and formed his first band in the early 60's. In 1965, he formed The Seeds, which scored with the top hit "Pushin' Too Hard" in 1967, as well as others. Critics panned him as a pale imitation of Mick Jagger. In the 70's, he joined a religious commune and performed under a number of band names, including his own self-titled band. In later years, he remained active touring and even recorded tracks with Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, even appearing in the band's video for "Superchrist". He died on the eve of a tour with other reformed 60's bands including The Seeds, Electric Prunes, and Love. The cause of death was undetermined, though, interestingly, he died on the very same day as Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett, whose passings eclipsed news of his own demise.

David Wayne, original vocalist for Metal Church (May 10, 2005)
The vocalist on the first several albums by Northwest metal legends Metal Church was originally an army field medic before fronting the Seattle band in 1982. The singer's distinctive raspy vocals could be heard on the band's stellar debut, 'Metal Church' in 1985, which remains a groundbreaking release in the development of thrash. The band became huge friends with Metallica and even opened for them on a number of tours. The singer's time with the band peaked with 'The Dark', their 1986 effort which featured the popular MTV track "Watch the Children Pray". After that, he left the band and fronted a minor Seattle metal band, Reverend. He fronted his own self-named band before returning to Metal Church for one more album, 'Masterpeace'. He was heavily influenced by Rob Halford of Judas Priest and was also a huge influence on the vocals of James Hetfield of Metallica. Wayne had an impressive vocal range that was demonstrated on albums as well as live. Wayne died of injuries from a car accident at the age of 47.

Allen Klein, record executive and business manager (July 4, 2009)
The powerful music businessman who managed both The Beatles and the Rolling Stones first took control of pop singer Bobby Darin's career in the late 50's by simply explaining the singer had to do nothing in order to make him rich. Klein would just take the reins, and from there, he became known as a shrewd, cutthroat men in the music business. He was feared, respected, and came highly recommended by many. His reputation was noted thusly by the paraphrased Scripture verse on the plaque on his desk which read, "Though I walk in the shadow of the valley of evil, I have no fear, as I am the biggest bastard in the valley." He also managed the career of r & b singer Sam Cooke, and in 1965, became the co-manager of the Rolling Stones with Andrew Loog Oldham. Mick Jagger got The Beatles to consider Klein to manage the band after the death of Brian Epstein, and though John Lennon was impressed by him, Paul McCartney wanted one of his own relatives, his father-in-law, who was involved in business to take control of the band. This was one of the fallings-out that led to the Beatles' breakup. As Lennon allowed Klein more control of their Apple label, which was in financial disarray, McCartney distrusted the manager in spite of cleaning up of the business. He also helped manage The Beatles as solo artists, helping them with their film projects and the Concert For Bangladesh, though eventually, they had moved away from his influence. In the 70's, he became involved in the movie industry, including successful porn films such as 'The Story Of O'. Klein died of Alzheimer's at the age of 77.

ABlairican Pie

01-29-2010, 02:06 AM

Willie DeVille, Americana singer-songwriter (August 6, 2009)
Born William Paul Borsey Jr., Willie DeVille, of the punk-oriented band Mink DeVille, was adept at a wide variety of American music styles from roots rock, r & b, Cajun, Creole, Latin, and country, among others. His band Mink DeVille was the house band of the legendary CBGB's in New York City, where many well-known punk and new wave acts got their start in the mid-70's. His songwriting skills helped redefine the Brill Building sound, which was originally made famous in the early 60's with the girl groups and the professional start of singer-songwriter Carole King. He struck an intriguing stage performance where he was able to merge two seemingly disparate styles and genres together, the New York sound and mariachi music together to form Latin-Americana, a unique style in and of itself. He became a local draw throughout the years in New Orleans, Los Angeles, and in Europe, winning the respect of many during his long career, such as Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler. He died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 58.

Les Paul, 50's musician and guitar designer (August 9, 2009)
Born Lester William Polfuss, the man who created the highly-desired instrument which bares his name was born of German ancestry and began to play jazz guitar on the radio in the 1930's. Unhappy with the sound of acoustic-electric guitars, he began to experiment with the shape of solid-body guitars, coming up with what was called "The Log", a basic slab of wood in which pickups and other components were installed. The solid body helped eliminate the feedback which was prevalent in acoustic-electrics. From there, the design soon transpired into what was known as the Les Paul guitar,
made popular by Gibson. However, in 1940, he nearly electrocuted himself to death while experimenting on his guitar building. He entered the U.S. Army during World War II, backing up big names and other big bands, then in the early 50's, played with other pop and blues artists. After shattering his arm in a near-fatal accident in 1948, Paul had his arm permanently set to where he could still pick and play his guitar. In the 1950's, as the new Les Paul guitar became Gibson's most successful model, new designs came about from it, such as a Gibson guitar with carved out "horns" which bore his name on the headstock. Since this was created without his knowledge nor his consent, he refused to pose for it, claiming it was not his guitar. Gibson then changed the name of the new instrument to the SG, meaning "Solid Guitar", becoming one of the company's biggest models. The original Les Paul guitar
went on to become one of the most sought-after instruments, to be played by such artists as Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Ace Frehley, Peter Frampton, Slash, Randy Rhoads, Zakk Wylde, and many others. In addition to his revolutionary guitar design, he also created the recording technique of overdubbing and multi-tracking, starting with the song he wrote and sung with his wife Mary Ford, "Lover Come Back To Me". Paul performed well past the age of 90, remaining active with many other musicians who were inspired by his guitar and music. He died of pneumonia at the age of 94.

ABlairican Pie

01-29-2010, 10:30 AM

Jim Carroll, punk musician and author (September 11, 2009)
Jim Carroll made his name as an author, with his autobiography 'The Basketball Diaries' in 1978, before his career as a punk rocker took off. His revelations about himself were based on his youth where he led a double life as an all-star basketball athlete in high school while resorting to prostitution to maintain his heroin habit. During his teens he began writing professionally, with his poetry being published, as well as working with such figures as pop artist icon Andy Warhol in films in the early 70's. At the same time his autobiography was published, he formed a punk group simply called the Jim Carroll Band, which based itself in San Francisco. The band became known for the hit "People Who Died". The song was featured on the 1980 album, 'Catholic Boy', and was later featured in many films. 'The Basketball Diaries' was made into a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg in 1995. Carroll worked with other musicians as well during his career, such as Lou Reed, Blue Oyster Cult, Rancid, and Ray Manzarek of The Doors. He died of a heart attack at the age of 60.

Mary Travers, folk singer with Peter, Paul, and Mary (September 16, 2009)
The female member of the 60's folk trio featuring Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey were one of the biggest names as part of the Greenwich Village music scene. She began her performing career in stage productions and considered her singing a secondary pursuit. After being encouraged by her peers, she joined up with Yarrow and Stookey to form Peter, Paul, and Mary. Their 1962 hits "If I Had a Hammer" and "Puff the Magic Dragon" were some of the most popular songs of the day, though the latter song generated some controversy for its alleged "drug references", which were proven to be false. Their covers of fellow folk musician Bob Dylan, "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right", and "Blowin' In the Wind", also became very successful in their own right. Their version of "If I Had a Hammer" became an anthem for racial equality, as did Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind", which they performed at the August 1963 March for civil rights on Washington, D.C. Though the trio broke up in 1970, Travers continued to make music, recording several solo albums. In her later years, she acquired leukemia, and died of complications of chemotherapy at the age of 72.

ABlairican Pie

01-31-2010, 06:46 AM

Dickie Peterson, bassist for Blue Cheer (October 12, 2009)
The bassist and lead vocalist for pioneering proto-metal 60's band Blue Cheer came from a musical family, though his parents died when he was still young.
Peterson joined Blue Cheer, the loudest band on the West Coast in the psychedelic 60's, initially as a guitarist along with fellow axeman Leigh Stephens. Throughout his life Peterson was consumed by the love of music, and demonstrated that love by playing the heaviest music known to man at that time on albums such as 'Vincebus Eruptum' in 1968. The album contained the cover of Eddie Cochrane's "Summertime Blues", which was later covered by The Who at Woodstock, with no doubt Blue Cheer's version well in mind. The band was known for its copious intake of LSD and other hallucinogens, as well as for being the first heavy metal band, according to many. While the band was often reviled by critics for being too over-the-top musically and personally, the three-piece group, which was influenced by power trios such as the Jimi Hendrix Experience, became a major influence on Rush, a future successful power trio. Blue Cheer split up and reformed over the years, while Peterson continued to join other bands and projects. The band was very popular in Germany and Europe in recent years, where they constantly toured. Peterson died in Germany from liver cancer at the age of 63. Rush drummer Neil Peart offered this eulogy: Dickie Peterson was present at the creation — stood at the roaring heart of the creation, a primal scream through wild hair, bass hung low, in an aural apocalypse of defiant energy. His music left deafening echoes in a thousand other bands in the following decades, thrilling some, angering others, and disturbing everything — like art is supposed to do.

James "The Rev." Sullivan , drummer for Avenged Sevenfold (December 28, 2009)
James Owen Sullivan, better known for his stage name The Rev. played with drums for the popular Orange County metalcore band as well as for his side project, avant-garde metal band Pinkly Smooth.
In addition to drumming, The Rev. also provided vocals to many of the band's songs. The band, which
adopted an edgy Guns N' Roses-style rocker persona to their contemporary metal, chose to identify themselves with various hip pseudonyms such as Zacky Vengeance and Synyster Gates. While many loved the sound and attitude of the band, others found it little more than an overblown "schtick".
The Rev. was found dead at the age of 28; though coroners officially claimed it was due to natural causes, the real causes are under investigation and a final report is forthcoming.

ABlairican Pie

02-22-2010, 02:18 AM

Ian Dury, British rock singer (March 27, 2000)
Ian Dury, frontman for Ian Dury and the Blockheads, rose to fame during the New Wave and punk movement of the late 70's with songs such as "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll" and "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick". Born in 1942,
he contracted polio at an early age, and spent over a year in convalescence.
His mother sent him to an arts school where he learned his future craft. He became a recording artist in the mid-70's before he formed the Blockheads. He became a best-selling artist with his clever catchy tunes and lyrics, merging various styles as rock and roll, funk, reggae, and even music hall standards. The band broke up in 1982, but Dury continued a solo career until his death from cancer.

Julie London, 50's singer (October 18, 2000)
Julie London, born Gayle Peck, was known for her sultry, smoky vocal style.
Born in Santa Rosa, California, she moved to Los Angeles where she entered Hollywood and became a prized pinup model for GIs. She was known often more for her drop-dead gorgeous looks than for her music, though she was extremely talented. In 1947, she married Jack Webb of 'Dragnet' fame, though later divorcing several years later. Her most famous song was "Cry Me a River" in 1955, and went on to record over 32 albums. She even played nurse Dixie McCall on the 70's action-rescue drama show 'Emergency!', though her lifelong habit of smoking contradicted this image of health. Because of this, she suffered a stroke in 1995. Her daughter died in a car accident the next year. She passed away in poor health due to smoking at the age of 74.

Glenn Hughes, the "biker" in the Village People (March 4, 2001)
Glenn Hughes (not to be confused with the Glenn Hughes who briefly fronted Black Sabbath in the 90's), was working as a toll collector at the Brooklyn-Battery tunnel in New York when he was spotted by music enterpreneur and composer Jacques Morali. Hughes was told by Morali that he was looking for "macho" characters to appear in a dance group. He agreed to join, where
he was given lessons on dancing and choreography. The new group, the Village People, became one of the biggest acts of the late 70's disco scene, where Hughes' deep voice was heard in many of the band's hits, including "In the Navy". Hughes was known for sporting his leather look and broad horseshoe mustache. He was also seen displaying his Harley-Davidson motorbike, as he was a motorcycle enthusiast. In spite of the macho leather look and motorcycle (which would be further popularized by Rob Halford of Judas Priest), he was a straight man, not gay, as many believed about hm due to his role in the band. He retired from performing in 1996 due to lung cancer, to which he succumbed several years later at the age of 50.

ABlairican Pie

02-22-2010, 10:26 AM

John Phillips, co-founder of the Mamas & the Papas (March 18, 2001)
John Phillips was the leader of one of the most popular vocal groups in the late 60's. The son of a former World War I soldier, Phillips grew up as a street tough who turned to doo-wop music. After attending various prestigious schools back East, he married his first wife with whom he had a daughter, Mackenzie. He immersed himself in the Greenwich Village folk revival scene in the early 60's when he married his second wife, Michelle, with whom not only did he have a daughter Chynna, but became his partner in the Mamas & the Papas. They became huge hitmakers for a few years with such songs as "California Dreamin'", "Monday, Monday", as well as others, and even penned the Bruce Mackenzie hit "In San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)". The band became Hollywood celebrities during their short time on the charts, after which they broke up due to personal tensions and the desire to move into solo directions. After the breakup, the group, including Phillips, went on to record several solo albums, though John's career was riddled with heavy drug problems. He had undergone a liver transplant in 1992, though he later died at the age of 65 due to heart failure. Controversy ensued posthumously for the fallen former singer when Mackenzie Phillips later alleged that she and her father carried on
a ten-year incestuous affair when she turned 18. Opinion was divided within her family about the claims; while most of them disbelieved her allegations, Chynna did in fact believe them, as did a few other members of the group.
Chynna went on to appear in the female vocal group Wilson Phillips in the late 80's.

Joey Ramone, lead singer of The Ramones (April 15, 2001)
Joey Ramone, born Jeffry Hyman, was the towering frontman of the groundbreaking punk band. Born in the Forest Hills area of the Queens district
of New York, he suffered from a dysfunctional family life and sought out solace in oldies rock and roll as well as the typical big name favorites of the 60's including The Beatles and The Who. He took up drums in his early teens and formed The Ramones in 1974, taking an alias that Paul McCartney used while checking into hotels back in the 60's while on tour. All other members of the band took the name as well, as if to imply they were a family (Johnny,
Dee Dee, and Tommy, as well as subsequent members in later years). Joey took over lead vocals after the band's first vocalist, Dee Dee, damaged his vocal cords. Joey, the original drummer, lent the drums to Tommy instead.
In the mid-70's, the band took off with its so-called "crazy bubblegum" style of hard fast rock based on simple chords and "fun" lyrics, i.e., "Beat On the Brat", "Blitzkrieg Bop", "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue", and others. They became a huge hit at CBGB's in New York and in England during that time. However, though they influenced a thousand punk bands during their heyday,
commercial fortune eluded them while their musical descendants prospered.
In the 80's, Joey did take part in social activity by joining Artists United Against Apartheid where he appeared in the video for "(I Ain't Gonna Play)Sun City", the resort in South Africa operating amid the squalor of the racially segregated country. The Ramones broke up after their 1996 Lollapalooza tour, amid personal squabbles between band members. Joey Ramone died of lymphoma at the age of 49, while listening to "In a Little While" by U2 during his final hospital hours.

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02-23-2010, 10:46 AM

Perry Como, pop crooner (May 12, 2001)
Perry Como, who had a long career lasting decades since the 40's, had not only his own television show but a lucrative recording career who sold countless records and albums during his heyday. Born in Pennsylvania in 1912, he became involved in music early on, attracting the attention of NBC promoters who set him on a long career singing at supper clubs and the like. During his long tenure at the top of the charts during the 40's and 50's, he performed such hits as "Till the End of Time", "Prisoner Of Love", "Surrender",
and many others. His 1968 hit "Seattle" was used in the t.v. show "Here Come the Brides", about pioneers in the Northwest town in the late 1800's, in instrumental form as the theme song. Como died at the age of 88, just a few days before his 89th birthday.

Chet Atkins, country musician (June 30, 2001)
Chet Atkins was instrumental in creating what was known as the "Nashville Sound" with his unique guitar stylings. Born in 1924 in Tennessee, he was plagued by asthma which forced him to sleep sitting up, often with his guitar in hand, in order to breathe properly. He was able to move out of his impoverished surroundings to cities such as Chicago where he impressed many with his excellent playing ability. He eventually made it to Nashville 2and joined the Grand Old Opry. He soon ran afoul of many in the country establishment for not sounding "country enough", due to his many influences.
He did find work with many other studios and artists. Country found itself in competition as rock and roll began to take off, and Atkins began to work in earnest to establish country as a big seller, playing in many sessions and using his "Atkins Style" of guitar playing with his thumb and two fingers. He played at the Newport Jazz Festival which was cancelled due to rioting, but was able to play before President Kennedy at the White House. He also had brought Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Connie Smith, Bobby Bare, Dolly Parton, Jerry Reed and John Hartford to the label in the 1960s and inspired and helped countless others. He also took a tremendous risk by signing black country singer Charlie Pride during the tumultuous Civil Rights movement where many conservative country fans balked at the sight of a black performer, but soon warmly embraced the new artist. Atkins had moved on from being producer to focusing on jazz when he felt frustrated and confined with the country scene's restrictions on his output. He was no longer a "pure" country artist, according to them, as he was becoming more "pop". He eventually recorded with the likes of Suzy Boguss and Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits fame. He also designed a few signature guitars for the Gretsch and Gibson lines which became
highly sought after. He died of cancer at the age of 77.

ABlairican Pie

02-24-2010, 10:44 AM

Leon Wilkeson, Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist (July 27, 2001)
Bass player Leon Wilkeson added to the list of the deceased in the legendary Southern band with his passing in the summer of 2001 at the age of 49. Born in Rhode Island but raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Wilkeson wanted to emulate his hero, The Beatles' Paul McCartney and took up the instrument with a passion at the age of 14. He soon was told by one girl that a group fronted by her brother was looking for a bassist, which he joined. The brother turned out to be Ronnie Van Zant, and the band was called The Collegiates. Wilkeson dropped out of school when his grades began to seriously fall. He joined a new band called The King James Version, where he learned to play "lead bass" in the style of such players as Cream's Jack Bruce, Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, and the Allman Brothers' Berry Oakley. Meanwhile, Van Zant's new band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, was signed though without a bassist. Wilkeson applied for the slot and was hired on the spot. Unfortunately, he began to get "cold feet", leaving the band due to fear of joining the road just as the recording for their debut album got underway. Guitarist Ed King took his place in the sessions while Wilkeson worked at an ice cream parlor. Wilkeson reconsidered going back to the band was and was welcomed back. He created an image of wearing colorful hats onstage and even sported a "Fenderbird" bass which was originally owned by The Who's John Entwistle. He lasted for the next several albums until the band's fatal crash which took the lives of Van Zant and a few others in the band, and left Wilkeson partially disabled in his arm. After the tragedy, Wilkeson lie low in the scene until he rejoined surviving members of the band for Rossington-Collins Band. The band lasted for a few years in the 80's before breaking up. Later on, a new lineup with Lynyrd Skynyrd emerged with Wilkeson--though another near-tragedy occurred: While on the road, Wilkeson was found to have his throat mysteriously cut by an unknown perpetrator while he slept and was bleeding profusely. He was quickly taken to the hospital and then returned to the band. The band received major interest throughout the 90's, though tragically, Wilkeson's premature death to lung cancer and other health concerns removed one more member of the original lineup. The band continued on with all new members and still continues to generate interest and diehard fandom.

Dee Dee Ramone, bassist for The Ramones (June 5, 2002)
Dee Dee Ramone, born Doug Colvin, was the second member of the legendary punk band who was preceded in death by lead vocalist Joey Ramone the year before and would be followed by the passing of guitarist Johnny Ramone only two years later. Born in Virginia, the young bassist lived a lonely life, the son of an American serviceman and a German mother. He was shuttled around the country and Germany where he made few friends. His mother left his alcoholic father and settled in New York where Doug met the bandmates who would become The Ramones. The young bassist was known for his quick countdown cues, "one-two-three-four!!" that segued many of the Ramones' songs. In spite of the fun and frivolity of the band's lyrics, fellow Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone cringed at the
bassist's lyrics about drugs. Dee Dee had been a user since his teens, especially heroin. In the 90's, Dee Dee Ramone left the band to enter rehab. During this time, he seemed to have a born-again conversion to Christianity, which the rest of the band considered another addiction and a product of dysfunctional behavior, being "addicted and obsessed with Jesus". The band turned him on to a habit of a different sort, that of rap and hip-hop, and so Dee Dee Ramone became a hip-hop artist under the name of Dee Dee King. He travelled to the Netherlands and Argentina where he formed bands and met his future wife and fellow musician. Meanwhile, the remaining Ramones brought on C.J. Ramone to fill bass duties, though Dee Dee continued to contribute to the band's lyrics. In spite of The Ramones' final shows where Dee Dee Ramone was the special guest, his relationship with his fellow former bandmates was strained. When Joey died in 2001, Dee Dee was not particularly gracious to him. Tragically, in the late spring of the following year, Dee Dee Ramone was found dead of a heroin overdose at the age of 50.

ABlairican Pie

02-25-2010, 10:48 AM

Rosemary Clooney, singer-actress (June 29, 2002)
Rosemary Clooney first rose to prominence with her 1950's novelty hit "Come On-a My House", though went on to release many big hits as a serious jazz vocalist such as "Mambo Italiano" and "This Old House". Unfortunately, during her success in the 60's, her life began to spiral out of control with bipolar disorder, depression and drug addiction. Her career was revived with her appearance with her co-star Bing Crosby, from the movie "White Christmas" in 1974. She also had her own show in the late 50's, though many younger viewers remembered her appearance on a commercial for Coronet paper towels in the late 70's and early 80's. Her husband was actor Jose Ferrer and had children involved in acting, Miguel Ferrer and Rafael Ferrer. Her nephew, George Clooney, became one of the most popular actors in Hollywood. She died of lung cancer at the age of 74.

Paul Baloff, Exodus lead singer (February 2, 2002)
Paul Baloff, one of the most over-the-top figures in metal, sang lead vocals for the pioneering Bay Area thrash band Exodus. Future Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, who founded the band, asked Paul to join in 1982. Baloff was known to be a hardcore and intense metal devotee, often declaring war on
"poseurs", or "false metal" fans, such as those who populated the Hollywood "hair-metal" scene in the early 80's. Often from the stage, in order to incite the crowd to rowdy behavior, Baloff would point into the audience and shout, "There's a poseur! Bring up so we can kill him!!" His bandmates and fans would not put it past him that he would actually kill a poseur. Often he would cut up t-shirts of bands such as Motley Crue, even right off the person wearing them. He appeared for only one album with Exodus, the groundbreaking 'Bonded By Blood', in 1985, though because of drug addiction, he was not focused in singing further on the next album. He was dismissed from the band, though continued to perform later on with other bands. He died after he suffered a stroke at the age of 41, when he went into a coma and taken off life support. Fellow thrashers Anthrax offered a "moment of noise" at a show in his memory.

ABlairican Pie

02-27-2010, 09:28 AM

Kevin MacMichael, guitarist for Cutting Crew (December 31, 2002)
Kevin MacMichael, the Canadian guitar player for the 80's pop band which released the hit "I Just Died In Your Arms", had played in several notable bands up north in the late 70's before co-founding Cutting Crew in the UK in 1985 with vocalist Nick Van Eede. The band was nominated for a Grammy for Best New Artist in 1987. The band split up in 1993, though MacMichael went on to play guitar and write songs for Robert Plant's solo album 'Fate Of Nations'. The audition for Plant surpassed his wildest expectations: '"Play me something," he said. He's about my age so the first things that came to mind were songs by Buffalo Springfield and Moby Grape. His jaw just dropped and he picked me up off the sofa and said: "Never leave me."' Their partnership lasted only one album and a world tour before Plant reunited with Jimmy Page.
MacMichael continued to play with various Canadian bands before he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2001, ultimately passing away from the illness on New Year's Eve at the age of 51.

June Carter Cash, country performer (May 15, 2003)
The singing daughter of the legendary Carter Family went on to become the second wife of American
music legend Johnny Cash. The young singer, born Valerie June Carter in Virginia 1929, first began performing with her parents and siblings at an early age, becoming a hit with them before moving on to do radio ads. In addition to her vocal performances, she was also excellent at comedy in their shows. The group also employed a young Chet Atkins on guitar, and when they were asked by the Grand Old Opry to relocate to Nashville, they refused when the Opry refused to honor Atkins, who was banned by the Opry. They eventually gave in and allowed Atkins to perform with the Carter Family, as his guitar genius was being widely recognized. It was in Nashville where Johnny Cash, who was still married to his first wife, and June first met. June was married to three men at separate times, and had children who went on to become successful in music as well. The 2005 biopic 'Walk the Line', starring Joaqin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, depicts a tumultuous relationship between June and her future star husband Cash, as his drug dependency nearly destroyed his life. She eventually married Cash in 1968 and stayed with him until her death of complications following heart valve replacement surgery in 2003. Johnny was devastated by her death, and later passed away that year a few months later. In addition to her singing, she also played multiple instruments and even acted in movies and films. She was highly regarded as having a commanding and nurturing role in Cash's life.

ABlairican Pie

03-07-2010, 10:23 PM

Nina Simone, jazz singer (April 21, 2003)
Nina Simone, born Eunice Kathleen Waymon, was a singer whose work covered a broad spectrum of styles, and was also referred to as the High Priestess of Soul. She secretly was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder as well as multiple personality disorder and schizophrenia, all of which had an impact on her music. Born in North Carolina in 1933, she began music in church and became an accomplished singer and pianist at an early age. During the era of segregation,according to Simone, her parents were forced to sit in the back of the music hall where she was about to perform, in order to make room for whites in attendance. She demanded that her parents be seated up front, and from that experience, as well as her being turned down for a musical scholarship due to her race, she began her commitment to the civil rights movement. With some help, she was able to receive funding for musical studies, and began performing locally at jazz clubs, adopting the name
Nina Simone (Nina = niña, girl in Spanish; Simone = French actress Simone Signoret), so as not to let her mother know she was performing what was considered "the devil's music", as her parents were strict ministers in the church. From there she became in demand and began a singing and recording career in the mid-50's, achieving success with the song "My Baby Just Cares For Me". In the 60's, as her commitment to civil rights deepened, she embraced a rather different message than that of Dr. Martin Luther King: while King non-violent resistance, Simone preached a mesage of active armed confrontation for blacks. She was not a racist, she explained, and believed that all races were equal, though the situation in the country by the mid-60's had escalated to the point where stringent measures were strongly considered for the preservation of blacks. Her songs and lyrics reflected this message in that time. In her later years, she became an international success in France and Europe. She died of breast cancer at the age of 70.

Bob Hope, legendary actor, performer, comedian, and singer (July 27, 2003)
One of the most durable performers in all of entertainment who became a living legend and institution
in America lived to the age of 100. Bob Hope, born Leslie Townes Hope in England, immigrated to the U.S. at the age of five and became an American citizen at the age of seventeen. He began performing at an early age, even entering a school for juvenile offenders, before being seen by early screen actor Fatty Arbuckle who brought attention to his acting and comic abilities in vaudeville. Hope chose the name Bob to give a friendly, familiar ring to his name. From there, he became a big hit in movies and musicals in Hollywood in the 30's, soon becoming Bing Crosby's partner in the series of "Road" pictures. Hope even appeared in one of the first broadcasts of the new medium of television
in 1932, while it was still in its developmental stage. He appeared on NBC radio during this time, and even made a very successful appearance on the "I Love Lucy". He began his stint as a USO entertainer in the early 70's in Vietnam, which was widely viewed on television. He was also an active
celebrity golfer. He died of natural causes, his life having passed the centenarian mark a few months before, with a long list of accomplishments to his credit.